The 6ft 5ins tough-guy striker Artem Dzyuba will pose the biggest threat to Roy Hodgson’s side in their Group B opener on Saturday.

But Manchester United centre back Smalling insists he is ready for the challenge.

The 26-year-old said yesterday that he and his fellow defenders had been shutting out strikers Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Daniel Sturridge and Marcus Rashford in training.

READY: Smalling is ready for his battle with Artem Dzyuba

Asked who had scored the most spectacular effort in workouts, Smalling said: “I’ve not seen too many goals actually!”

But Dzyuba will present an altogether different threat and is seen as his side best hope of pulling off a shock in Marseille.

The 27-year-old has scored nine goals in 18 games for his country and said: “Four years ago before the European Championships, which I did not play in, I called myself a lion cub. But now I am a lion.”

Smalling, who looks certain to start alongside Gary Cahill at the heart of England’s defence, said: “We have been watching videos this week, he is a big guy and it will be a physical battle.