ROY HODGSON has backed his rising England stars to keep him in a job.

HAPPY: Hodgson is confident going into the Euros

Hodgson yesterday named a youthful squad to take with him to Euro 2016.

He will be out of contract after the finals but is desperate to remain in charge for the next World Cup in Russia in 2018.

His future hangs in the balance and will depend on whether the Three Lions sink or swim across the channel.

But Hodgson is convinced his men can emulate the likes of underdogs Leicester, Greece and Denmark by causing a major upset.

He said: "Why would anyone, especially at this time when the England squad is on the brink of doing something good, want to walk away?

"When you go to tournaments you want to go with the desire and the hope you're going to win.

"It's happened in the past - nobody expected Denmark to win it in '92, nobody expected Greece to win the Euros as well; no-one expected Leicester to win the league.

"Everyone's got to have that hope, everyone's got to have that dream, everyone's got to have that thought in their mind of 'who knows'."

Hodgson has named an initial 26-man squad ahead of three warm-up friendlies against Turkey, Australia and Portugal.

He will axe three before the end of this month and put them on standby for the tournament.

Marcus Rashford, Fabian Delph and Danny Drinkwater are likely to be the unlucky trio.

Hodgson has included Rashford despite previously claiming the teenage sensation wasn't in his thoughts.

He admits he has been keen to dampen the hype surrounding Rashford to protect the Manchester United starlet.

But he has found his form impossible to ignore and admits he could still make the final cut.

"I haven't spent any time with him, but we have had conversations with people at the club about him and everyone is excited about his potential and development," said Hodgson, who consulted United boss Louis van Gaal before picking him.

"I didn't like the idea of being forced to pick him because he is the latest shout.

"He had burst on to the scene and I didn't like the idea that after one game he had to be in the England, but I never dismissed it.

"We followed him, watched him, liaised with the coaching staff and as a result we came to the conclusion to put him this group of 26."

Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe is one of those who missed out yesterday, despite scoring 18 goals this season.

"I always thought that to get in an England squad for a tournament is based on merit and as a forward, if you score goals, then you have a chance of going," he said.

"Towards the end of the season, I started thinking about England. I feel like I did everything I could do."