Harry Kane, Wayne Rooney and Marcus Rashford

Kane, not Wayne Rooney, will be the striker expected to score the goals England need for glory.

And as far as former England and Newcastle legend Alan Shearer is concerned the Spurs striker can also follow in his footsteps and win the Golden Boot award.

Shearer, part of the BBC's team of pundits in France which includes another Golden Boot winner in Gary Lineker, is backing Kane to join the illustrious list in France. He says: "The form Harry Kane's in I'm sure that's what he's looking to do.

"He has the ability, and he's had a fantastic season and he'll go into the tournament full of confidence. I'm sure he'll go into it as number one striker.

"England are going to have to get to at least the semi-finals for him to have a chance of getting the Golden Boot and will have to be on top form for England to get there. But why not?

"I like everything about him. At this moment in time you wouldn't judge him as world class, but he's got a great opportunity to put himself into that bracket at this tournament.

"What I've seen I'm excited about. He's got a bit of everything. If you want him to hold it up he can. If you want him to head it he can do that. If you want him to run in behind, he can."

All of which leads to the question: What do England do with Rooney? Shearer and Jermaine Jenas, another of the BBC's Euro pundits, have no doubts.

"I think Roy will start him behind. Similar to one when they played Germany," said Shearer.

"He hasn't got what he had three or four years ago, but he's the same guy we were lauding six months ago when he broke the record."

Jenas sings from a similar song sheet as fas as Rooney is concerned.

He says: "If you play Wayne Rooney you have to change the way we play. I think Roy will start him, but I personally wouldn't. I would like to see high press, energy, these young players getting about teams and making things happen.

"Rooney's role within the team is to bring his experience on and off the pitch to help these young players."

But it is Kane - and his Spurs teammates in the squad - who are expected to play the key roles for England in France.

"If England and going to go far in this tournament the Spurs contingent are going to have a lot to do with that," claims Jenas.

"Even if you put Kane aside, Roy couldn't have expected Dele Alli and Eric Dier to get to the level they have.

"Last year we didn't know if Dier was a right back or centre back. Now he's one of the most accomplished holding midfield players in the league.

"You look at Spurs and think how can I get my England team to play almost similar to this?

"To do that, a lot of them are going to have to be on the pitch. I think we saw signs of it in the Germany game, links between Danny Rose, Alli and Kane. It was clear for us all to see and it works. When you've got them training with each other day in and day out and playing with each other week in week out ­it helps. It's perfect for England

"If a miracle does happen and England end up winning this tournament I'm sure the Spurs fans will turn it into the Tottenham trophy," he added.

But it was Shearer who had the final shot  for Hodgson to sleep on last night by backing Manchester United whiz kid Marcus Rashford to take the place of the injured Danny Welbeck - rather than the injury prone Andy Carroll or Daniel Sturridge.

"I think Rashford's more of a realistic option than Andy Carroll," he said. "He's got great potential and he's been a breath of fresh air for United with his energy and pace.

"Referees don't look favourably upon the likes of Carroll at international level," he added.

Hodgson is, however, expected to name the following 23-man squad at Wembley tomorrow.

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Jack Butland (Stoke City), Fraser Forster (Southampton).

Defenders: Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Everton), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Ross Barkley (Everton), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, James Milner (all Liverpool), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)

Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City), Theo Walcott (Arsenal).