Harry Kane earns maiden England call-up as Roy Hodgson names squad for Euro 2016 qualifier
Tottenham youngster Harry Kane has earned his much-anticipated call-up to the England senior squad. Manager Roy Hodgson today named his 24-man team for the upcoming Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania at Wembley on 27th March and a friendly against Italy in Turin four days later. The 21-year-old is included in the list.
Kane has broken through the ranks of Tottenham and established himself as one of the most exciting young English strikers to have come up since England captain Wayne Rooney. The youngster’s tally of 26 goals in 42 matches this season has earned him a place in the senior squad for the first time in his playing career.
Kane, who has 10 Under-21 caps to his name, is the top English scorer in the Premier League this season and Hodgson had indicated that the striker was very much in his plans at a briefing in London last month.
Hodgson said, “Is he worth a place in the squad now? Of course he is. I think he’s got the qualities that you’re looking for in a centre forward. “If you can be a star at a top team like Tottenham at the age of 21 then you’re doing pretty well.”
However, there was no space in the list, for this year’s other standout uncapped English players, Danny Ings, Charlie Austin and Ryan Mason.
Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge has returned to the squad after missing the last five games with a thigh injury and Aston Villa’s Fabian Delph earns a recall after coming back from a shoulder injury.
Here’s the full list for the upcoming double header.
Goalkeepers
Fraser Forster (Southampton), Joe Hart (Manchester City)
Defenders
Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur)
Midfielders
Ross Barkley (Everton), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Fabian Delph (Aston Villa), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), James Milner (Manchester City), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur), Theo Walcott (Arsenal)
Forwards
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal)
Here’s a video of Harry Kane’s goals for the England U21 squad.