Shelvey gets second shot with England
JONJO SHELVEY can play his way into England’s Euro 2016 plans after earning a recall to Roy Hodgson’s squad for the qualifying games against San Marino and Switzerland.
The Swansea midfielder, who played in the club’s stunning 2-1 victory over Manchester United yesterday, won his last cap against San Marino in 2012.
Shelvey is in Hodgson’s 22-man squad because the increasingly influential figure of Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has been ruled out through injury.
Hodgson said: ‘On this occasion we are obviously missing some players from the June matches. However, this is compensated by the fact we have players who weren’t available over the summer.
‘Jonjo Shelvey (below) gets another chance as he has been very impressive since the start of the season, while Ryan Mason has been unlucky with us — he picked up an injury the last time he was in the England squad.
‘This latest squad shows we are working with a good number of players with a claim to be England regulars and secure a place in Euro 2016.
‘Before that there are two matches we must focus on. The players must keep going, play well and look to win every match. I don’t want any let-up and we want to win both these games.’
John Stones, who handed in a transfer request at Everton last week, has been named in the squad because of his good form at Goodison Park. Manchester United defender Phil Jones is still injured, but Stones has done enough to move ahead of him in the pecking order at international level.
Left back Luke Shaw, who pulled out of the Under 21 tournament after a disappointing debut season at Old Trafford, has earned a recall to the senior team. Club-mate Michael Carrick also returns.
Leicester striker Jamie Vardy, who made his debut against the Republic of Ireland in the June friendly, is on a last warning following FA disciplinary action.
Vardy, who scored a penalty against Bournemouth on Saturday, has admitted and subsequently apologised for racially abusing a Japanese national.
The FA have warned Vardy, who has served time in prison for assault, about his behaviour and he can consider himself fortunate to have been retained in the squad.
England have won all six qualifying games, but Hodgson knows the preparations for Saturday’s match with San Marino will be built around captain Wayne Rooney.
The England forward has scored 48 times for his country and he is expecting at least to equal Sir Bobby Charlton’s record of 49 against the European minnows.
After the San Marino trip England return to Wembley to play Switzerland a week tomorrow and it is likely to be an emotional night for the Manchester United striker.
FA chiefs plan to invite Charlton and Gary Lineker to the stadium to make an on-pitch presentation to Rooney if he moves to the top of the goalscorers list in San Marino.
Rooney has a close relationship with Charlton, who also serves as a director at Old Trafford, and specifically requested the former England forward to make the presentation for his 100th cap.
ENGLAND SQUAD (v San Marino and Switzerland) —
GOALKEEPERS: Hart (Man City), Butland (Stoke), Heaton (Burnley).
DEFENDERS: Clyne (Liverpool), Shaw (Man Utd), Gibbs (Arsenal), Cahill (Chelsea), Smalling (Man Utd), Stones, Jagielka (both Everton).
MIDFIELDERS: Carrick (Man Utd), Milner (Liverpool), Barkley (Everton), Shelvey (Swansea), Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Sterling, Delph (both Man City), Mason (Tottenham).
FORWARDS: Rooney (Man Utd), Kane (Tottenham), Vardy (Leicester), Walcott (Arsenal).