Roy backs his young Lions to go all the way

ROY HODGSON claimed England could win the World Cup yesterday as he prepares to unleash his young Lions in Brazil. England’s head coach was in bullish mood after naming a 23-man squad in which eight outfield players are under the age of 24.

Phil Jones, Luke Shaw, Ross Barkley, Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Raheem Sterling, Jack Wilshere and Danny Welbeck are among the younger names in his new-look squad which includes a call-up for Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster.

And Hodgson, despite facing a tough group in Brazil including Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica, declared yesterday: ‘I believe the squad can win the World Cup, otherwise what’s the point?

‘If we’re going to win it, we’ll have to prepare and play very well, and this talented group of players have to show their talent.

‘We’re right to have some degree of optimism and to work on the basis of optimism in the country.

‘We’ll feed off that and make sure we do everything to make sure we don’t let our country down.

‘I am excited about the squad, I am excited that there are young players in there who have a future.

‘ Their f uture has t o be immediate. I have selected them because I believe they could go into the team and play well just as I see them play well in the Premier League every weekend. There will be pressure on them and there is no way of relieving that pressure. I feel a sense of positivity around the general public because they are hoping we’ll play well and do well.

‘As the England manager taking a team to the World Cup, you have to accept there is going to be pressure on you and everyone wants you to do well. I don’t really see the point trying to fool people and play it down.’

Hodgson (right) also named Liverpool defender Jon Flanagan and Everton’s young centre-half John Stones on his seven-strong stand-by list amid concerns over the fitness of Jones.

The Manchester United defender has a bruised shoulder, but Hodgson hopes he will have made a full recovery by the time he nominates his final 23 on June 2.

Flanagan and Stones will travel to Portugal with England as the medics continue to monitor Jones. The other stand-by players — John Ruddy, Michael Carrick, Andy Carroll, Jermain Defoe and Tom Cleverly — are free to go on holiday.

Hodgson admitted he would be prepared to make an SOS call to Ashley Cole if Leighton Baines picked up an injury before England’s opening game against Italy on June 14.

Cole announced his international retirement after Hodgson asked him to be on his stand-by list on Sunday evening and has no plans to play for England again.

Despite that, it is possible to bring in a replacement between June 2 and 13, but only if a player picks up an injury after June 2 that rules him out of the entire tournament.

Hodgson admitted: ‘ Ashley Cole isn’t really a cover player. Ashley is a No 1 man.

‘When I decided Baines today might be No 1, then I decided the next one wouldn’t be Ashley and would be Luke Shaw.

‘Circumstances could make the decision a very good one or it could make it a very bad one.’

Meanwhile, striker Defoe, who left Tottenham earlier this year for a lucrative move to MLS side Toronto FC, admitted last night that he was devastated to be left out of Hodgson’s 23.

The 31-year-old was expecting to travel to Brazil, having been a regular in the squad over the past two years.

‘It’s hard to even find words to describe how I am feeling,’ he said. ‘I felt I had done enough. I feel sharper than ever and I have been on form and scored goals.

‘To miss out, I feel devastated. I didn’t really feel I had to sell myself to the manager. I had a situation at the 2012 Euros where I lost my dad and I had a decision to make.

‘But I chose to go back out to Poland and Ukraine because I know how important it is to play for your country.’