Wayne Rooney says he is "delighted" to be available for England again and believes the competition for places up front is "great" for the team.
Rooney sat out England's opening two matches in Group D through suspension but is now clear to play and head coach Hodgson is set to draft the Manchester United striker straight back into the side for the vital game with Ukraine.
A draw in that match at the Donbass Arena in Donetsk would guarantee England a spot in the last eight after picking up four points from their opening two games against France and Sweden.
Rooney said on Sunday in a press conference televised by Sky Sports News: "Obviously I'm delighted to be back part of the team and the squad and to be involved again.
"The lads have done great to put us in the position we are in now and hopefully I'll get a chance to play and try and shine and help us get through the group."
Rooney also insists he is fit and ready to go despite not having had much competitive action recently, adding: "Since I've joined up with the squad I've took part in every training session. I'm feeling good, I'm just feeling ready and excited to get out onto the pitch."
The return of Rooney is a major boost to England, with the 26-year-old comfortably the squad's leading scorer at international level with 28 goals in 74 appearances.
However, England have not done too badly without their star striker, with four goals from their opening two games leaving them among the highest scorers in the tournament so far.
Defender Joleon Lescott netted in England's 1-1 draw with France and then forward trio Andy Carroll, Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck were all on the scoresheet in Friday's 3-2 win over Sweden.
"It's great for the team that we've got forwards scoring goals and the forwards have done well in the games," said Rooney.
"It's great for me as well, it's great competition. You know you need to be at your best to get into the team and stay in the team, so I think it's great for the whole team."
Carroll will almost certainly make way for Rooney on Tuesday and the latter said: "I know Danny very well and play with him at club level.
"And Andy has come in and done really well - he's a big old fashioned number nine.
"They are two very capable players - and you mustn't forget Jermain [Defoe] as well.
"Between us, there are four good strikers there."
Considering Rooney's record in tournaments since he took Euro 2004 by storm as a rookie teenager, the 26-year-old actually has a lot to prove on the biggest stage.
Despite having not played 90 minutes for more than a month, he confirmed he was fully fit, and asked if now could be the time for him to deliver, he said: "I hope so.
"I think England are a massive football team, a massive football nation.
"Not just over the last four tournaments but maybe over the last 30-odd years, we haven't fulfilled that potential.
"Our country needs to be winning trophies with the history of the country.
"Hopefully, it will happen this time. We've got a great group of young players there."
Rooney has had plenty of time to cast his eye over those players in the past week thanks to his moment of madness in October's final qualifier in Montenegro.
The forward was seen kicking virtually every ball from the stands against France and Sweden and he said: "It's more difficult than playing.
"When you're playing, you can always do something to try try to change the game.
"Obviously, sitting in the stands, then there's nothing you can do."
Rooney was part of England's World Cup debacle two years ago and he suggested Hodgson had made changes for the better, admitting it was a happier, more relaxed camp than under Italian manager Fabio Capello in South Africa.
He added: "I think it helps everyone being English. There are no words lost in translation.
"The manager trusts his players, which is obviously a big help to the players.
"Under the other managers, there was an element of trust there.
"Roy's come in and he's obviously given us a lot of rest time as well and a lot of down time, and we understand what he wants from us."
What Hodgson really wants is for England to avoid the same fate as Russia on Saturday night, Dick Advocaat's men crashing out of Euro 2012 despite winning their first game 4-1.
Like the Russians, England need only a point to progress and Rooney said: "If we have to take a point then we'll happily do that.
"But we're going into the game to try to get the three points."
He added: "We've got a big belief in ourselves.
"We believe we're good enough to get through the group stages."
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