England squad: Roy Hodgson challenges Harry Kane to prove himself like Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson at international level
Spurs striker has been called up for the first time
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Your support makes all the difference.Roy Hodgson has challenged Harry Kane to establish himself in the England team like Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson have done, having named the Spurs striker in the squad to face Lithuania and Italy over the next international week.
Kane is the only uncapped player in the squad to face Lithuania in a Euro 2016 qualifier a week tomorrow and then Italy in Turin four days’ later. Danny Ings and Saido Berahino have been named in the Under-21s squad who have games against the Czech Republic and Germany.
On Kane, Hodgson said: “I don't think he has anything to prove because to get into this squad he has proven that he has got the qualities we are looking for. He is the right type of player with the right type of qualities and we know he is the right kind of man as well because we know a little bit about his character and the type of person he is.
"The thing he has got to do is play lots and lots of games. That's what he has got to do, he has got to keep doing it.
"He has broken into the Tottenham team and kept people like Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado out the team. He has been chosen in front of them because, obviously, the coach believes him to be the better man for the job at this moment in time.
"He has just got to keep doing that. When I say he has got to prove himself, you break onto the scene, everyone sees your talent, everyone appreciate it but then, unfortunately, you've only really still made on step along the way. You can't say you've fully arrived unto you do it on a consistent basis."
Hodgson has shown loyalty to Andros Townsend, Luke Shaw and Ross Barkley, all of whom are in the squad despite indifferent from for their clubs. The former senior call-ups include Calum Chambers and John Stones who are both in the Under-21s squad with a view to them playing in the Under-21s European championships in the Czech Republic this summer.
Hodgson said: “We have to stay strong, if you like, to some extent to what we believe and what we see in players. Sometimes it is the moment to stick with those players. Shaw and Barkley are very good examples in this particularly get together.
"We believe in them, we believe they have got a future. We think they have done enough in their time with us to prove that quality and that potential. At this particular moment, both of them aren't having their best moments but rather than jettison them, we prefer to keep them onboard with us."
ENGLAND SQUAD...
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)
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