LONDON: Uncapped Southampton right back Nathaniel Clyne and Swansea City midfielder Jonjo Shelvey were yesterday called up for England’s 2016 European Championship qualifiers against San Marino and Estonia.
Clyne, who scored a stunning goal against Arsenal in the League Cup recently, has never previously been called up, while Shelvey has made one previous appearance, coincidentally against San Marino, in October 2012.
“He’s impressed us for quite a while,” England manager Roy Hodgson said of 23-year-old Clyne.
“Even before the World Cup, he was a name we were constantly considering, but of course there were other people we considered to be in front of him.
“Now we’ve lost Glen Johnson and Kyle Walker (to injury) -- John Stones played there the other day -- and we were looking for someone else who we thought could be a very interesting candidate for the right back post.
“This time he was not only considered, but asked to come.”
On Shelvey, who Hodgson previously coached at Liverpool, the manager said: “The way we’re looking to play could suit him.
“He’s had an excellent start to the season with Swansea and he’s there on merit, because of his form and because of his qualities.”
Arsenal left-back Kieran Gibbs returned to the squad, but Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge missed out due to a thigh injury.
In Sturridge’s absence, Hodgson named only three strikers in Rickie Lambert, Danny Welbeck and captain Wayne Rooney.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers revealed on Wednesday that he had asked for Sturridge not to be selected as he pursues his recovery from injury, and Hodgson said it was an amicable decision to leave him out.
“There was no question of manoeuvring, either on Liverpool’s part or our part. We were both hoping he’d recover in time, but he hasn’t,” he said.
“It’s a great blow for us, a blow for Liverpool and a blow for the player, who was anxious to be a part of these two games. But there’s not a problem or a conflict there at all.
“He’s not played for Liverpool at all since picking up the injury with us. As I understand it, he’s still got some work to do before he’s fully fit. There was no question of him being selected.”
Manchester United left back Luke Shaw and Arsenal defender Calum Chambers were included in England’s Under-21 squad for their forthcoming 2015 European Championship play-off against Croatia.
Having won 2-0 away to Switzerland in their opening Group E game last month, England host minnows San Marino at Wembley Stadium next Thursday before tackling Estonia in Tallinn the following Sunday.
England squad
Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Southampton), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Hart (Manchester City)
Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), John Stones (Everton)
Midfielders: Fabian Delph (Aston Villa), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Jonjo Shelvey (Swansea City), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)
Forwards: Rickie Lambert (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal).
AFP
PARIS: Striker Andre-Pierre Gignac won a recall to the France national side yesterday along with fellow-Marseille player Dimitri Payet after impressing coach Didier Deschamps for the league leaders.
The 28-year-old Gignac is the top scorer in Ligue 1 with eight goals this season, and has been called up to replace Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud, who is recovering from a foot injury, for friendlies against Portugal and Armenia later this month.
“He’s back, he was there last year in September (against Georgia),” said Deschamps of Gignac who will back-up the usual forward lineup of Karim Benzema, Antoine Griezmann, Mathieu Valbuena, Loic Remy and Remy Cabella.
“Even if he has always scored goals he is now very efficient,” continued Deschamps. “He has the physique that allows him to make the effort.
“If I’m taking him, it’s because I consider that what he is doing on the field right now is interesting for the France team,” he added.
Gignac, who has scored four goals during 17 appearances for France, has not worn the France jersey since playing a goalless World Cup qualifying draw in Georgia last September. Concerning winger Payet, 27, who has seven caps for France, Deschamps said he had also been impressed by his performances for Marseille. The player from the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion, was selected to fill in for Lille midfielder Rio Mavuba who is out with a thigh injury.
“He’s a player with many qualities,” said Deschamps.
“What he’s able to achieve for his club is very interesting, in a different role, axial, playmaking, where he is very influential in the game and decisive by his passes and goals.”
Lyon defender Christophe Jallet has also been recalled to fill in for the missing Mathieu Debuchy (left ankle) after missing the 1-0 win over Spain and 1-1 drawn in Serbia last month.
Barcelona’s Jeremy Mathieu will fill the gap of Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho (thigh). France squad for internationals against Portugal on October 11 and Armenia on October 14.
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham/ENG), Stephane Ruffier (Saint Etienne), Steve Mandanda (Marseille)
Defenders: Christophe Jallet (Lyon), Lucas Digne (Paris Saint Germain), Patrice Evra (Juventus/ITA), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal/ENG), Eliaquim Mangala (Manchester City/ENG), Bacary Sagna (Manchester City/ENG), Jeremy Mathieu (Barcelona/ESP), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid/ESP)
Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye (PSG), Blaise Matuidi (PSG), Paul Pogba (Juventus/ITA), Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle/ENG), Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton/ENG)
Forwards: Mathieu Valbuena (Dynamo Moscow/RUS), Remy Cabella (Newcastle/ENG), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid/ESP), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Loïc Remy (Chelsea/ENG), Dimitri Payet (Marseille), Andre-Pierre Gignac (Marseille). AFP
