Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater on Thursday received his first call to join the England football team for Euro 2016 warm-up friendlies against Germany and the Netherlands.
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Hodgson names his squad for France on 12 May after which England will play three friendlies against Turkey, Australia and Portugal.
Roy Hodgson has admitted that Danny Drinkwater’s development was being monitored before the start of this season.
Hodgson spent part of Wednesday discussing his latest squad by conference call with coach Gary Neville, despite the former defender having other commitments.
Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge will not be subject to “extra special care” while with England but is likely to continue with a tailored training programme to ensure he does not suffer another injury. His only problem is that he is competing as a left back at global level, but has often found himself as central defender in either a back three or even a back four in recent weeks for Saints.
That makes the matches in Berlin and at Wembley this month crucial for everyone who is involved as they look to cement places in the 23-man group for the tournament.
“On this occasion I deliberately ignored Kieran and Leighton”, he added.
“I just hope he’s got over the period he’s had over the a year ago and a half, and can be the same player we had in spring 2014”.
“I chose to take Danny Rose and Ryan Bertrand, who appeared with us later than those other two – two players we know a little bit less”.
That means Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge is set to be included after his lengthy injury absence this season, along with Vardy, Welbeck and Tottenham forward Harry Kane.
He’s one of the very few one-club men left and a player who has been consistently brilliant for West Ham for over ten years, yet still no global recognition from a country seemingly only interested in “big clubs” and “big names”.
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Hodgson is optimistic of success this summer, while also urging caution at heaping pressure on inexperienced members of his squad. “If not, I still think that platform will serve England well in the years to come”.
