Should England extend Roy Hodgson’s tenure as Three Lions boss?

The former Finland manager has shown surprising flexibility in recent games, happily experimenting with a diamond formation that has paid dividends.

This slight tactical shake-up has been promising, as has Hodgson’s willingness to give in-form players the nod, rather than relying on reputation.

The likes of Nathaniel Clyne and Stewart Downing have been capped or re-called due to impressive club performances, and the coach is expected to initiate even more youngsters into the fold with his next squad announcement.

Ross Barkley, Raheem Sterling and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are just a handful of the starlets that have shown an ability to gel under Hodgson’s guidance, although Euro 2016 may arrive before they have truly blossomed.

In this sense, it would seem churlish to offload Hodgson if England do not triumph in France, with the current crop of players still developing.

Harry Kane could offer solutions to the striking conundrum up front, providing both the potency of Daniel Sturridge and the work rate of Danny Welbeck in one package. Meanwhile, John Stones also looks to be a long-term successor to Rio Ferdinand at centre back, and could be the ball-playing defender the Three Lions are craving.

Russia 2018 would be a far better benchmark to judge Hodgson by, then, if he is to oversee the learning curves of Sterling and co. After all, there seem to be few obvious successors to his throne, with the likes of Gary Neville currently untested.

However, three years is a long time in the impatient world of football. So, should the FA choose to extend Hodgson’s deal, a paper contract could prove to mean little if England board an early plane home from continental competition yet again.