Saints duo Fraser Forster and Ryan Bertrand are in pole position to be going to the European Championships after being named in Roy Hodgson’s England squad for this summer’s pre-tournament friendlies.

Goalkeeper Forster and left back Bertrand got the nod as Hodgson named his 26-man party for the pre-tournament preparations.

Forster, who first burst on to the England scene when he was at Celtic, getting a call-up for 2014 World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Poland in 2012, will be in the squad for England’s Euro 2016 warm-up games against Turkey, Australia and Portugal.

The Three Lions face Turkey at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium on Sunday before welcoming Australia to Sunderland’s Stadium of Light a week Friday and then Portugal to Wembley on June 2. 

The Saints goalkeeper, who made his first appearance for England in a friendly against Chile at Wembley in 2013, has five caps to his name and was an unused option at the 2014 Brazil World Cup, with Joe Hart first-choice.

A long-term knee injury then halted Forster’s progress on the international scene before he received his first call-up since November 2014 in March this year.

The 28-year-old then played in friendlies against Germany and Holland, with Hart and then Jack Butland crocked.

He has now completed a marvellous injury-comeback season with his inclusion in this latest squad. 

Bertrand meanwhile will likely go head-to-head with Danny Rose for the left-back berth in France.

He’ll have the opportunity to prove his worth as England head into their warm-up matches.

The former Chelsea man has had another superb season for Saints, playing 34 times and scoring his first goal of the season in Sunday's 4-1 win over Crystal Palace fron the penalty spot, and will be aiming to add to his seven caps.

If he were to go to the competition in France it would be his first major tournament.

The 26-year-old, who appeared for Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics, made his debut for England against Italy in a friendly in August 2012. 

Manchester United teenager Marcus Rashford has been included in Hodgson's squad.

Hodgson has named a provisional party that includes 18-year-old Rashford, less than three months after he made his first-team debut for United.

The uncapped striker's impressive form has seen him fast-tracked into a group of forwards along with Harry Kane, Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge and Jamie Vardy, as Jermain Defoe and Andy Carroll miss out.

Andros Townsend, who won the last of his 10 caps in October, comes in following Danny Welbeck's knee injury, but there is no place for Theo Walcott.

Leicester's Danny Drinkwater, who impressed on his debut against Holland in March, is included in the squad, as are Jack Wilshere and Jordan Henderson as the pair make their way back from injury.

Phil Jagielka is the high-profile defensive absentee, with the Everton defender left out as Hodgson opted for a seven-man defence.