England vs Australia: Manchester United's Marcus Rashford to be handed debut on Friday night

The 18-year-old broke through to the United first-team last season

Marcus Rashford during Manchester United training (Getty)

Marcus Rashford is set to be handed his England debut against Australia on Friday with Roy Hodgson admitting that the Manchester United teenager still has a chance to sneak into his 23-man Euro 2016 squad.

The 18-year-old, who started for United in Saturday’s FA Cup Final victory against Crystal Palace at Wembley, has scored eight goals in 18 senior appearances for United since being thrust into the first-team at the end of February by Louis van Gaal.

And his form for United prompted England manager Hodgson to name the forward in his 26-man pre-tournament squad ahead of confirmation of his final 23 names for France.

With the knee injury sustained by the youngster during the Cup Final not regarded as serious enough to keep him out of action in training this week, Hodgson admits he is keen to give Rashford match action against the Socceroos - the opponents when a 17-year-old Wayne Rooney made his senior debut in February 2003.

“The amount of time we're going to have with him (Rashford) is very, very short,” Hodgson said. “It will be Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday morning we go back to the Grove and I have to make a decision on the 23 players.

“So we would hope (he will get some time against Australia), yes.”

Rashford reported for training with United team-mates Wayne Rooney and Chris Smalling at 9am at Manchester City’s CFA Campus on Monday morning, with Liverpool’s Europa League final contingent also attending after being given an extended break by Hodgson.

But after initially playing down Rashford’s hopes of making Euro 2016, Hodgson admits that his ability to sustain his early form for United, before impressing against Palace at the weekend, has made him a genuine contender to go to France -- despite leaving his surge until the eleventh hour.

“We will have to wait and see (what he brings),” Hodgson said. “There is no doubt I think I made the right decision putting him in this large group because the lad has enormous talent.

“You will know from my past record that I'm not afraid to give young players a chance and I don't dismiss them on the basis of their age.

“But you will also know full well that, where he is playing, we actually have a lot of competition for places and there isn't an awful lot of chance for him to stamp his authority on myself and the coaching staff because there is such a short period of time.

“But I really am ruling nothing out and I thought his performance in the FA Cup final was very good.

“I'm delighted I shall be seeing him and then we will have to wait to see whether I will be seeing a lot of him in the summer.”

With Jamie Vardy set to miss the Australia game after being time off by Hodgson for his wedding on Wednesday, Rooney and Daniel Sturridge are likely to play at the Stadium of Light, with Rashford being given time as a substitute.

Rooney could yet play in the midfield role he performed for United at Wembley and Hodgson claims that the 30-year-old highlighted his ongoing class during his team’s fight back against Palace.

“It was good, wasn't it (Rooney‘s performance?) Hodgson said. “He had a good spell.

“I was really delighted to see him run with the ball towards the end. In the beginning, he was concentrating on his passing, but he actually got hold of the ball in the second half and ran with it, producing that fantastic run and cross.

“That's the Wayne Rooney we are hoping to see in the Euros.

“I'm not planning an experimental team against Australia, but we have only three preparation games and already quite a lot of people – seven players – have missed the first one.

“I have to take those things into consideration. I will take all those things into account because by the time we come to the Portugal game next week, I want a pretty good idea of what I'm thinking about for the start of the tournament.”