England squad includes three toy mascots with Chris Smalling having to lug the first one around
ENGLAND plan to roar at this summer's Euros - with the help of Three Lions.
A source close to the squad revealed three stuffed toy lions have been issued to the players to lug around with them this summer.
Chris Smalling, 26, was today pictured hauling around the unofficial mascot - which remains unnamed - as Roy Hodgson's men landed in Chantilly, France, to set up camp.
Two other anonymous stars have also reportedly been given the same figures.
Smalling, capped 25 times for England, attached the toy to his suitcase and sneaked it into team photos.
It has been suggested the lion is carried by whoever is at fault for a particular error in training - and is used as a joke punishment.
But this is not the first time a stuffed cat has appeared in an England squad.
It became tradition that the youngest player of the group would be forced to care for the furry toy.
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But Marcus Rashford, 18, was spared the blushes as his Manchester United team-mate took the stick.
Hodgson, his staff and his 23-man squad touched down in France on Monday morning to begin their tournament preparations.
The England gaffer is well under way with plans having already ordered Fort Knox-style security at the Three Lions' training ground.
Hodgson, 68, fears opposition spies will take note of his team's tactics and has demanded a seven-foot tarpaulin screening around the entire perimeter.
England face Group B rivals Russia on June 11 in Marseille's Stade Vélodrome.
Five days later the Three Lions take on Wales at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens.
The final Group game between Hodgson's men and Slovakia is played on June 20 at Saint-Etienne's Stade Geoffroy Guichard.
Perhaps the toy lion is a ploy to confuse nosey neighbours.
