England anchor role is between Michael Carrick and Jack Wilshere, says Roy Hodgson

Roy Hodgson says it is a straight fight between Michael Carrick and Jack Wilshere for the anchoring role at Euro 2016. England will not repeat fielding Phil Jones, a good centre-half, as a defensive midfielder after the “experiment” was abandoned here.

Hodgson returned to London on a delayed flight with his squad options deepened. “Technical issues” with England usually relate to players, not planes, but there was enough class on display in the second half against Italy, including Carrick’s composure, Ross Barkley’s inventive dribbling, another reminder of Harry Kane’s promise at No 9 and Andros Townsend’s goalscoring impact from the bench.

Carrick was overlooked for the World Cup, Barkley started only the dead rubber against Costa Rica, Kane’s career was still to take off while Townsend travelled to Brazil but was injured. This quartet demanded their consideration for Euro 2016 with their performances in Turin.

Hodgson admitted that he could not predict his first-choice starting line-up for when England open up in the Euros because the squad was evolving. “I think it is changing all the time because people are coming in, the Barclays, the Townsends, the Phil Jones’. I am really pleased to say the squad is getting stronger and I would like to think we will be capable of using all these players in the right way. There are so many more players capable of competing with these boys – that has got to be something positive.”

Hodgson has an undoubted No 1 in the outstanding Joe Hart with back-up in Ben Foster, Fraser Forster and Jack Butland. Hodgson’s back-four does lack real quality, though. Nathaniel Clyne looks the best of the options at right-back, although Kyle Walker pushes hard, while the supposed riches at left-back remains a moot point. Leighton Baines has never convinced internationally, Kieran Gibbs, Ryan Bertrand and Danny Rose are solid but not stellar while the most obvious successor to Ashley Cole, Luke Shaw, has been troubled by injury. Luke Garbutt is being spoken of as a longer-term contender.

Centre-half continues to stir concern. Hopes that a Chris Smalling- Jones axis would develop for club and country have been stymied by injury, individual mistakes and managerial whims. Phil Jagielka and Gary Cahill are more reliable, although vulnerable against opponents of clever movement like Edinson Cavani and Luis Suárez. John Stones and Calum Chambers need assessing more fully after the European Under-21s Championships.

Hodgson has more riches in midfield. Asked whether Carrick would be in his starting line-up at Euro 2016, Hodgson paused before saying: “Well, he has got competition too because of Jack Wilshere. But I’ve always been an admirer of Michael Carrick and am delighted to see him back. If both are fit I might have to a) find some way of tweaking the formations or b) pick one of them and that would be tough.”

Wilshere came through 45 minutes of under-21 action for Arsenal against Brentford on Tuesday, even scoring as he made his latest return from ankle trouble. “I spoke to Jack at the Arsenal training ground the other day and he was very, very positive,’’ said Hodgson. “It was just a question of the irritation he’s been feeling with the wires they put into his ankle which have been irritating his ligament. He’s pretty confident that with those taken out he’s going to be OK.”

Wilshere still does not seem a natural holding midfielder, being more suited to more assertive midfield role, and Carrick’s serenity is a boon. The Manchester United manager, Louis van Gaal, calls Carrick a “trainer-coach” before of his footballing intellect.

Now 33, Carrick hopes to feature at Euro 2016 where he would set a record of having the longest England career of any outfield player since Stanley Matthews. Carrick’s debut came aged 19 in a 4-0 victory over Mexico in May 2001 so his career would have stretched past 15 years.

Assuming Hodgson pursues his 4-3-3 Plan A system into Euro 2016, the energy of Fabian Delph and Jordan Henderson will be important with their “five-second furies” in closing down opponents. Each needs to see if he can offer more of a goal threat. James Milner provides good cover.

^{Roy Hodgson has much to ponder before the next England match}

In attack, Hodgson has a wealth of options with Raheem Sterling, Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck looking his preferred triumvirate. Daniel Sturridge will be in the squad but it would be hard to omit Welbeck, who creates, scores and tracks back. Kane proved here that he can dovetail with Rooney, and offers a strong Plan B.

If Kane continues to develop at his current rocket-like trajectory, Hodgson may have to consider returning to a diamond to accommodate a forward who clearly has an international future of great potential. The diamond suits Barkley, whose confident performance at the tip was one of the most uplifting elements in Turin. A Rooney-Kane attack supported by Barkley would strike fear into many defences.

Hodgson’s diamond was too narrow until Townsend came on. Townsend offers a special option from the bench, pace and goals while Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have similar roles to play. Adam Lallana would also be in the squad.

Plenty of work is required if England are to have a chance of progressing at the Euros. “We worked quite hard in the World Cup but didn’t get any results,’’ concluded Hodgson. “We are trying to consistently hone what we have been doing for a period of time and we are getting such a good response that I do feel there is some progression.

“Until we can just go on to the field and it’s in our backbone of knowing exactly what we want to do with the ball, without the ball, there’s a lot of work still to do, not only from the staff, but also from the players.”