Rashford's England U20 call-up makes Euro 2016 pick questionable
Manchester United starlet Marcus Rashford has earned his first call-up to England's under-20 squad, linking up with the team for its meeting with Canada's youngsters at Doncaster Rovers' Keepmoat Stadium on Sunday.
The 18-year-old's selection could have been bittersweet, however, as it reduces his chances to impress Roy Hodgson ahead of the senior side's Euro 2016 campaign this summer.
Being asked to feature for Keith Downing's outfit rather than Gareth Southgate's England Under-21s also suggests that Hodgson intends on taking a measured approach with Rashford's development on the international scene.
The teenage striker burst onto the scene at the end of February, when his four goals in two matches killed off FC Midtjylland and Arsenal in quick succession. He does face some considerable competition to break into his country's senior ranks in club teammate and England skipper Wayne Rooney, free-scoring duo Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy, and the oft-injured yet gifted Liverpool forward Daniel Sturridge.
Danny Welbeck and a fit-again Charlie Austin would also be expected to steal ahead of Rashford for further international recognition.
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Rashford's 19-year-old United colleague who has impressed at left-back this term, will join Aidy Boothroyd's under-19s for matches against Georgia and Spain.
Here is the England Under-20 squad in full:
Goalkeepers
Angus Gunn (Manchester City), Ted Smith (Southend United)
Defenders
Ola Aina (Chelsea), Mason Holgate (Everton), Reece Burke (Bradford City - on loan from West Ham), Harry Toffolo (Peterborough - on loan from Norwich City), Jake Cooper (Reading), Kean Bryan (Manchester City)
Midfielders
Harry Winks (Tottenham Hotspur), Bryn Morris (Walsall - on loan from Middlesbrough), Joe Williams (Everton), Charlie Colkett (Chelsea), James Maddison (Coventry - on loan from Norwich), Kasey Palmer (Chelsea)
Forwards
Ryan Kent (Liverpool), Brandon Barker (Manchester City), Alex Gilliead (Carlisle Utd - on loan from Newcastle), Ashley Fletcher (Barnsley - on loan from Manchester United), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Rees Greenwood (Sunderland)