STERLING WINNING THE RACE

RAHEEM SET TO START EUROS OPENER... AND HE’S NETTED AN MBE!

GARETH SouTHGATE is set to unleash an array of attacking talent on Croatia tomorrow, with Raheem Sterling winning his race to start the European Championship opener.

Sterling was last night awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to racial equality. ‘It is a proud moment — not just for myself but for my family,’ he said. England team-mate Jordan Henderson received an MBE, too, for services to charity.

And Sterling is expected to start at Wembley, with Southgate throwing caution to the wind in his bid to get

off to a winning start. Doubt had surrounded whether he would be in the XI. The Manchester City forward has been one of Southgate’s untouchables in recent years, but Sterling has lost his place in Pep Guardiola’s side.

Southgate, though, is leaning towards keeping faith in Sterling.

Having experimented with a back three in training, he is also giving serious consideration to sticking with the four-man defence he used during the warm-up wins over Austria and Romania.

A back four would allow Southgate to field an extra attacking player. And with Harry Kane, Mason Mount and Sterling expected to start, two of Marcus Rashford, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish would miss out.

There is a feeling in the camp Grealish will begin on the bench, despite being arguably England’s best player in the pre-tournament friendlies. Rashford remains a favourite of Southgate but is carrying niggling injuries, while Foden, 21, has just six caps and no major tournament experience.

John Stones should play at centre back and Tyrone Mings is hopeful of joining the City man in the heart of England’s defence.

Southgate said yesterday that first-choice central defender Harry Maguire was ahead of schedule in his recovery from an ankle injury, explaining: ‘ He is progressing really well. It is still a long shot (for Croatia) but we are checking in daily and he is further ahead than he thought he might be. We are not going to rule it out.’

However, sources said yesterday it would take a ‘ miracle’ for Maguire to start against Croatia as he recovers from the ligament damage he suffered on May 9.

England are also set to be without midfielder Henderson from the start as he recovers from a long-term groin injury.

Southgate’s plans could change after today’s final training session, but assistant Steve Holland said: ‘We are 75 to 80 per cent there going back a reasonable period of time, although you do have to go off your eyes. Seeing how players present on a day-to- day basis is influential. We don’t ignore what we see in the training sessions.

‘So although we were fairly clear right up until the end of the week, you keep an open mind. In the end you hope you make the right choices, but we’re very clear on the direction of travel for Sunday.’ lJoInInG

Sterling and Henderson on the Honours List is former England manager Roy Hodgson, 73, who is awarded a CBE. Hodgson led his country at Euro 2012, the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016 and enjoyed a successful career in club management at home and abroad.

Presenter Sue Barker has been awarded a CBE for services to sport, broadcasting and charity.

Rugby league star Kevin Sinfield is honoured with an oBE for his work raising awareness of motor neurone disease.