Roy Hodgson calls on Andy Carroll to help England manager enjoy the perfect start in Norway Regular watchers of the tall Carroll and the more sinewy Welbeck will argue there are as many differences as similarities. They are broadsword versus rapier, strength versus stealth; both are capable of substantial damage but in different ways. With Hodgson clearly not a fan of Peter Crouch or Grant Holt, he needs Welbeck to shrug off his ankle problem quickly. Hodgson is even prepared to gamble on the Manchester United striker's fitness. "The doctor's very confident he will be fit when we get on the plane for Poland [on June 6],"" said the England manager. I'll make allowances for that and as long as he gives me guarantees he wants to play, I'll take him. I'd hate to dismiss him and then, in five days" time, hear he's running round with nothing wrong with him. There's an element of risk involved, but we don't have other alternatives of the Welbeck-type up front. England have been down this road with strikers before with Kevin Keegan in 1982 and Wayne Rooney in 2006. Hodgson nodded. I know there have been an awful lot. It'll always happen. We go to these tournaments at the end of very long seasons. Often, players have been playing in the latter parts of season with injections to get them through to the end, and we pick them up on the back of that. The injections have to stop and the treatment begin afresh. Leaving aside the serious issue of how much injecting goes on of elite players (although Welbeck has not been jabbed), England again appear to be hobbling into a tournament. Like Welbeck, Glen Johnson (toe) will be tested at The Grove on Monday before Uefa's noon deadline on Tuesday. If the pair struggle, Martin Kelly will replace Johnson and Daniel Sturridge will be drafted in for Welbeck. Jack Butland, Birmingham City's highly-regarded young keeper, has already been scrambled from the standby list for poor John Ruddy, who broke his wedding finger in training - on the eve of next week's nuptials. However frustrating the end to Ruddy's season, the popular Norwich City keeper can reflect on how his stock has risen over the past 10 months. He has a role to play for England on the qualifying road to Rio 2014. Ruddy has travelled to Oslo, showing support for the squad at Friday night's training session in the dry heat of the Ullevaal, the setting for Bjorge Lillelien's legendary celebration of Norway's victory over England 31 years ago. England will need to be on their toes tonight, needing the nimble Young to drop back into midfield at times to guard against England being overrun. Steven Gerrard will break forward from central midfield while the anchoring duties are performed by Scott Parker, whose Achilles problem appears to be easing. In training last night, James Milner and Stewart Downing first provided the width followed by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Adam Johnson. Hodgson clearly intends giving Oxlade-Chamberlain his debut at some point this evening. Hodgson appears to view Arsenal's exciting teenager as a zephyr of a force out wide despite his excellence in the centre against AC Milan. Opportunity knocks, though, and Oxlade-Chamberlain is speeding quickly into contention for the France game. His Arsenal colleague, Theo Walcott, may replace Young in the hole for the second half. England's back-four is a makeshift affair, awaiting the return of the Chelsea contingent. Phil Jones and Leighton Baines are at full-back with Phil Jagielka and Joleon Lescott in the centre. Hodgson dismissed criticism of his decision to allow Frank Lampard, John Terry, Ashley Cole and Gary Cahill a late entry to the preparations. "Calling up the Chelsea players immediately after the Champions League final, straight into a training camp, I'd be pushing them too hard,"" he said. Hodgson added that tonight, for all the understudies" involvement, was a significant dress rehearsal for the dramas ahead. "After South Africa there are a lot of people who want to prove they are that good," said Hodgson, adding: "A lot of the players [in the team against Norway] are not necessarily those who will start the tournament. There are many who haven't played many national games. But I'll be expecting performances from the players because it's an opportunity for them to prove they should be involved. For a patriot like Hodgson, a man who feels he does not always receive the credit he deserves, the game on Saturday night will be special. "I'll certainly feel proud,"" he reflected. Opening days have not always been accurate precursors of future events. Alf Ramsey lost 5-2 to France at Parc des Princes on Feb 27, 1963 and within three years had conquered the world. "It would disappoint me if the mood of the nation was lowered if we happened to lose against Norway,"" said Hodgson. England are unlikely to get "a helluva beating." No injuries, and a barnstorming display from Carroll in particular, would do nicely.