Football: Danny Drinkwater named in England squad
Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater has earned his first call up to the senior England squad for friendlies against Germany and the Netherlands.
England manager Roy Hodgson has given Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater a first senior call up, for the Three Lions' upcoming friendlies with Spain and the Netherlands.
Drinkwater is the only newcomer in a 24-man squad missing some key players through injury and Hodgson said the midfielder had earned his chance.
"What he's done has been evident to everybody. He's had a fantastic season but even last year we were aware of him," the manager told a news conference.
"In that area the competition is quite fierce but I thought it was a good opportunity to see if he can reproduce the quality that he's shown for Leicester."
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The squad also sees a recall for Tottenham Hotspur fullback Danny Rose, one of five Spurs players in the squad.
Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck's successful injury comebacks with Liverpool and Arsenal respectively, have also earned the strikers a recall.
But there is no room for Phil Jones and captain Wayne Rooney who remain sidelined through injury.
Revealed! Your first look at the #England squad for this month's friendlies against @DFB_Team and @OnsOranje: pic.twitter.com/lye4Ohhpie
— England (@england) March 17, 2016
13 of the 24 man squad come from Liverpool, Everton and Spurs. While Southampton, Manchester City, Manchester United, Leicester and Arsenal each had two English players called up.
The full squad:
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Stoke), Fraser Forster (Southampton), Joe Hart (Man City).
Defenders: Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Danny Rose (Tottenham), Chris Smalling (Man Utd), John Stones (Everton), Kyle Walker (Tottenham).
Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham), Ross Barkley (Everton), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Danny Drinkwater (Leicester), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), James Milner (Liverpool), Raheem Sterling (Man City).
Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Jamie Vardy (Leicester), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal).
