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Midfield options key for Hodgson's 11-1 shots

ENGLAND cruised through Euro 2016 qualifying and are 11-1 to win next summer's tournament but the hard work starts here for Roy Hodgson with the process of settling on his 23-man squad for the finals.

Fitness permitting, captain Wayne Rooney is one of the first names on Hodgson's list - he's 4-1 with bet365 not to start England's opening game - but his absence from recent qualifiers has assisted the development of Ross Barkley and Harry Kane, both of whom impressed against Lithuania on Monday.

Neither played in Rooney's favoured number-ten position but they appeared well-suited to the 4-3-3 formation which worked better in the 3-0 win over Lithuania than it did against Estonia three days earlier.

Barkley bagged the opening goal in Lithuania and hardened from 2-5 to 1-6 to make the squad for the finals.

The Everton man looks increasingly likely to get the nod but his chances of starting the first game may depend on his impact in upcoming friendlies against Spain, France and Germany. Playing Barkley in midfield was a low-risk strategy against the two Baltic minnows but Hodgson will pay far more attention to how he gets on against stronger opposition

The same applies to Kane who, like Barkley, looks highly likely at 1-7 to make the squad but is far from certain to start England's first match at Euro 2016.

Kane was one of four Tottenham players to feature in Lithuania but he is the only one of the Lilywhite contingent who is odds-on to make the Euros. Andros Townsend - once a Hodgson favourite - is a 2-1 chance while Kyle Walker is 5-2 despite making his first international appearance for seven months.

Neither price looks particularly eye-catching but Betfair's 3-1 about team-mate Dele Alli - one of the rising stars at White Hart Lane - could be better value.

Alli made his England Under-21 debut less than six weeks ago and he has been warned by the England management not to consider himself a permanent fixture in the senior set-up.

Competition for midfield places will be fierce with injured trio Jack Wilshere, Jordan Henderson and Fabian Delph all odds-on with Coral to make the cut.

However, Alli has shown he can play in defensive and attacking roles, has made huge strides in a short space of time and should enhance his case for inclusion by the end of the domestic season.

The 19-year-old was a 10-1 shot with bet365 last month and punters who took those odds will be feeling optimistic.

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