Roy Hodgson's first day in charge of his new England players ended with a major selection headache over his strikers.

Hodgson has to identify the forward who starts instead of the suspended Wayne Rooney for the first two games at this summer’s European Championship.

But Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck, the favourite to line up against France and Sweden in Ukraine, is struggling with the ankle injury he suffered in a challenge from Manchester City’s Nigel de Jong on April 30.

Welbeck left the Etihad Stadium that night on crutches, with his ankle in a protective boot, and he was unable to participate in Hodgson’s first training session at the same stadium last night. Glen Johnson also had to sit out.

The FA’s medical team will continue to monitor Welbeck, 21, and his absence on Wednesday night was described as ‘precautionary’.

But he is rated as a doubt for the game in Norway on Saturday - the first of the two friendlies Hodgson has before that encounter with France a fortnight on Monday.

With only Andy Carroll and Jermain Defoe as the other strikers in the squad - if Theo Walcott travels more as a winger - Welbeck’s fitness is certainly a concern for Hodgson.

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