Hodgson backs new blood

02 October 2014 03:16

England approach the upcoming European Championship qualifiers without eight key players, but manager Roy Hodgson is confident the likes of Nathaniel Clyne and Jonjo Shelvey will rise to the occasion.

The Three Lions continue their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign with a home clash against minnows San Marino next Thursday, before travelling to Tallinn to take on Estonia the following Sunday.

Hodgson announced his 21-strong squad for those matches on Thursday afternoon, with Southampton right-back Clyne rewarded for his fine form with a maiden senior call-up.

There is a return to the squad for Swansea midfielder Shelvey, two years on from his sole senior appearance against San Marino, as Hodgson looks to fill the gaps left by injuries and the England Under-21s' important European Championship play-off against Croatia.

"Well, games have always got to be won, however people or however you yourself weigh an opponent in terms of degree of difficulty," the Three Lions boss said. "You've still got to win the games.

"I think we've been unlucky this time around. It is not just Daniel Sturridge, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling that are missing, we're missing a lot of players as well.

"I counted eight players the other day that under normal circumstances would have been considered for this squad.

"But I am lucky there is still plenty left, some very, very good ones left and in Nathaniel Clyne and Jonjo Shelvey I've got a chance also to introduce two new players.

"Having said that, Jonjo has been there before but not been on a regular basis, so I am looking forward really to what they can do.

"I am just hoping now the games over the weekend don't throw up any more injury problems for us.

"Six injuries and two players loaned out to the Under-21s, that's a lot of players to miss. We don't have such a vast group of players that we can constantly replace eight."

As well as Sturridge, Jones and Smalling, injury also sees right-backs Glen Johnson and Kyle Walker miss out on selection.

Jon Flanagan, Michael Carrick, Ross Barkley, Jay Rodriguez and Andy Carroll are others absent through a variety of issues, while former Southampton team-mates Shaw and Chambers have been 'loaned' to the Under-21s as Hodgson says they now "belong to the senior squad".

"I would like to make it clear to everybody it is important for players, especially when they are young and break into the first-team squad in some way, that doesn't give them automatic right to always be there," he said.

"There might be times when they are needed more in the Under-21s squad and that's the case at the moment with Calum and Luke.

"I've spoken to them both, explained that very clearly and made it clear that come November they will be serious candidates to be back in this squad.

"Gareth's done the same and I am hoping that the two of them will strengthen the Under-21s team going into these two important games and make sure we qualify."

Even without Chambers and Shaw, there are five players in this squad eligible for next summer's Under-21s European Championship finals in the Czech Republic.

While Hodgson is keen for players to acquire tournament experience, he believes bringing in someone like Raheem Sterling would be harsh on the existing squad.

"Well, technically he qualifies but you must also remember he has not played one game for the Under-21s during that qualifying period," he said.

"He won't have played in the two qualifiers to get them there, so my question to you is would you want to be the one going to the player who has played in all the matches and say 'by the way, there is a guy here, so I no longer need you to be part of the Under-21s setup because he is a bona fide international'?

"I wouldn't want to be that man and I don't think Gareth wants to be that man.

"What's more the Under-21s midfield at the moment has got some very, very good players - many of whom I predict in a year's time could be in this squad rather than the Under-21s squad."

Source: PA