• England

Sterling could be handed No.10 role

Roy Hodgson is considering using Raheem Sterling in the No.10 role for England's opening Euro 2016 qualifier against Switzerland.

Following Daniel Sturridge's withdrawal through injury, Hodgson has tried out several formations in training and is said to be giving serious thought to building his side around 19-year-old Sterling for Monday's match at St Jakob-Park.

Wayne Rooney could play up front with Raheem Sterling in the No.10 role © Getty Images

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Sterling started on the left wing against Norway but shone in his favoured role behind the strikers after Rooney was substituted in the second half.

With Welbeck set to replace Sturridge, Rooney could now be switched to the left wing to accommodate Sterling through the middle - as was the case in England's opening World Cup defeat to Italy.

"It [Sturridge's injury] might make me think a little bit differently in terms of those options. I'm not saying it has," Hodgson said.

"We're just fortunate, in an unfortunate situation after losing a player in training - and Daniel was unbelievably devastated by it, so it was a tough pill ... so I'm disappointed, but we still have the players there.

"The fact we haven't raced out to replace people means we think we have enough bodies.

"We used two systems, slightly varied, against Norway. It would be foolish of me to give you an exact appraisal of what we have in our mind, but I think at the moment with the players we are producing in England, the young ones coming forward, they do offer different options.

"They're not stereo-typed in their play. Very few are classic No.9s, 10s, 7s, 4s, 6s. They're capable of doing different things. We just want to use them in the best possible way."

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