Football
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Manchester United's Marcus Rashford set for England start vs. Australia

Marcus Rashford is in line to start for England just 92 days after making his first-team debut for Manchester United, with Roy Hodgson confirming the teenage striker will "play a serious part'' against Australia.

The 18-year-old has shone since a warm-up injury to Anthony Martial thrust him into the starting lineup in late February, when he flourished rather than wilted under the Old Trafford lights against FC Midtjylland in the Europa League.

Rashford marked his debut with a brace and, having now netted eight goals in 18 matches, will make his senior England debut against Australia at the Stadium of Light.

Friday's encounter in Sunderland could even see the striker lead the country's attack as the oft-injured Daniel Sturridge will have a calf strain assessed on the morning of the game.

"There's no doubt that my initial intention was to choose between Sturridge, Rashford and possibly one other to play up front in the game,'' England boss Hodgson said, having confirmed his intention to rest Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy.

"With those two out, it's pretty obvious that Rashford is going to play a serious part in the game.

"And furthermore, if Daniel Sturridge isn't fit tomorrow then I think you'll all work out that he is going to start the game as well.

"I'm happy with that. I am more than content that he will handle that situation.

"I would have preferred I suppose in some ways to have avoided all the headlines that will come with a debut at such a young age and after such a meteoric rise.

"But I can't do that without a) lying or b) trying to disguise intentions in some kind of fog and I don't want to do that either.

"People know our team and our players too well and you will have worked it out, so at the moment it looks very much like he will be starting.''

If unable to feature, Sturridge will join Gary Cahill on the sidelines as the Chelsea centre-back, who skippered England to a 2-1 win against Turkey last weekend, has had another injection in his hip.

Hodgson also confirmed that captain Wayne Rooney will start from the bench and Fraser Forster will be in goal, leaving Sturridge's availability as the main remaining question.

Having arrived late following the Europa League final, the 26-year-old was unable to train on Wednesday or Thursday due to a calf strain.

That issue raises serious doubts over his availability for Euro 2016, but Hodgson insists Sturridge would not be ruled out of contention for France if he missed the final friendly before finalising his 23-man squad.

"As far as the 23 is concerned, it's very simple: I shall leave it as long as I possibly can,'' said Hodgson, having confirmed the injured Fabian Delph is now a standby.

"A lot of things can happen in football on a day-to-day basis. We have a match to play and matches sometimes give you injury situations. We hope not but they sometimes do.

"Training sessions also give you injury situations, so there's absolutely no reason for me whatsoever to start talking about who will go and who may not go until it's absolutely necessary.

"I have until midnight on Tuesday so until that time I shall try and keep my powder dry and avoid that very unpleasant situation where maybe at an early stage I say 'you're not really in my thinking for the 23' and go back to him and say 'by the way you are.'''

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