Drinkwater’s in ... and Hodgson picks 5 strikers!
ROY HODGSON is expected to hand Leicester midfielder Danny Drinkwater his first senior call-up when he names his England squad this morning for friendlies against Germany and Holland.
Hodgson is also planning to pack his England squad with strikers for what is the final audition before he selects his 23-man party for Euro 2016 in France this summer, with Danny Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge both expected to earn a recall.
Drinkwater, outstanding in Leicester’s unlikely title push this season, will be given the chance to impress. With Jack Wilshere still to prove his fitness, Hodgson wants to assess his options for the deeplying central midfield role.
Dele Alli has been considered for the role should Wilshere fail to prove his fitness, and Drinkwater could provide an alternative if he impresses.
But with Wayne Rooney absent with injury, the friendlies against Germany and Holland later this month represent an opportunity for Hodgson to assess the respective qualities of five frontmen — Jamie Vardy, Harry Kane and Theo Walcott as well as Welbeck and Sturridge.
Injuries have seriously hindered the international progress of Welbeck and Sturridge. Liverpool striker Sturridge last appeared for England in September 2014, while it is 12 months since Arsenal’s Welbeck last wore the three Lions.
Drinkwater’s expected inclusion is likely to be at the expense of Newcastle’s Jonjo Shelvey, while it remained unclear last night if Marc Albrighton would increase the number of players England’s manager was looking to recruit from the team leading the Barclays Premier League title race.
Hodgson will name his squad this morning and
Sportsmail understands Vardy and Welbeck have both been asked to participate in the launch of a new England kit by FA officials. It would certainly seem to bode well for Vardy’s chances of making it to Euro 2016.
West Ham starlet Reece Oxford, who was called up for England’s Under 18 squad, has also been invited to the kit launch.
Hodgson names his squad for France on May 12, after which England will play three friendlies against Turkey, Australia and Portugal.
Last night there was concern among the club managers about the welfare of their players at such an important stage of the season.
Liverpool have made no objection to Sturridge being called up despite only recently returning from a long lay- off. But Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino realises the impact an injury to someone like Kane or Leicester’s Vardy could have on the outcome of this most intriguing title race.
Pochettino says he trusts the England coaching staff to look after his players as England face Germany in Berlin on March 26 and Holland at Wembley three days later.
Speaking ahead of their Europa League return leg with Borussia Dortmund on Thursday evening, and aware that a number of his players could earn selection to the England squad, Pochettino said: ‘With the staff from the national team, we always give advice and information for them to manage the players but you never say you need to do this or that.
‘We have confidence and trust in them to care and look after our players. When they have international opportunities, to play at the Euros, it is difficult for them because it is against our interest. But they need to play and show quality.
‘An injury is always an accident and not what you want.
‘For me, all the managers for the national team, they have the capacity to look after the player and it is difficult to stop some accidents happening.
‘It’s important for us to trust them and them to trust us.’
Meanwhile, Hodgson will discuss coach Gary Neville’s long-term future in the coming days.
Neville, who is due to join up with England next week, has become a key part of Hodgson’s backroom team, and the England boss is keen to hear the coach’s plans beyond the end of the season.
The former Manchester United defender’s deal at Valencia expires this summer, but he is set to be offered an extension. MARCUS RASHFORD’S form for Manchester United has earned the striker a call-up for the England U20’ s game against Canada at Doncaster Rovers’ Keepmoat Stadium on Sunday, March 27. The teenager is joined by fellow United striker Ashley Fletcher, who is on loan at Barnsley.
Cameron Borthwick- Jackson, back in training ahead of United’s Europa League clash against Liverpool, is in Aidy Boothroyd’s U19 squad for a triple-header in the European Championship Elite Round qualifiers with Georgia, Greece and Spain.