England: Chambers, Rose, Delph and Colback earn first call-ups
- Published
Roy Hodgson has included four uncapped players in the England squad for games against Norway and Switzerland.
He has called up Arsenal defender Calum Chambers, Tottenham left-back Danny Rose, Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph and Newcastle's Jack Colback.
Everton's John Stones, who was on standby for the World Cup, is also in the squad, with Wayne Rooney captain.
England host Norway in a 3 September friendly and start Euro 2016 qualifying in Switzerland on 8 September.
Here is the run-down on England's new young lions:
Calum Chambers, age 19 (Arsenal)
Chambers signed for Arsenal from Southampton for £16m in July and has been playing in central defence since joining the Gunners. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is a big fan of his versatility, as he can play at right-back and midfield.
Having made 22 Premier League appearances for the Saints, and two for Arsenal, he makes the leap from the England Under-19 set-up, bypassing the Under-21s entirely.
He became the third youth-team product to leave Southampton for Arsenal in recent years, following Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, both of whom went on to represent England.
Hodgson said: "I had a long chat with Arsene last night and just checked we weren't pushing him ahead too quickly, or asking something he's not capable of at such a young age, but Arsene assured me he's ready for any challenge.
"With 10 injuries and six of them in the defensive part of the field, I didn't have the luxury of saying he could start in the Under-21s. We've had to jump him up and he's come in straight away."
Danny Rose, age 24 (Tottenham)
Tottenham left-back Danny Rose, who has 29 Under-21 caps, has been called up as Leighton Baines's understudy in the absence through injury of Manchester United summer recruit Luke Shaw.
Rose, who scored a stunning volley against Arsenal on his debut in 2010, signed a new five-year contract in the summer, but his starting place is not assured after the signing of Ben Davies from Swansea.
The 24-year-old made 38 Premier League appearances for Spurs since joining from Leeds in 2007 and was part of the GB squad at the London 2012 Olympics.
Fabian Delph, age 24 (Aston Villa)
The £6m signing from Leeds in 2009 has been capped at Under-21 level for England, but this is his first senior call-up.
He has made 86 Premier League appearances for Villa, scoring three times - all last season.
Hodgson watched midfielder Delph play for Villa against Newcastle on Saturday and with Michael Carrick, Ross Barkley and Adam Lallana injured, he has an opportunity to impress.
Hodgson said: "I was impressed with him on Saturday and was impressed with the reports of his first game of the season for Villa.
"He benefits that in an area where we felt we were very strong, with Gerrard and Lampard now out of the equation, people like Delph and Colback can see the opportunity and they're still very inexperienced players."
Jack Colback, age 24 (Newcastle)
Colback has made an impressive start to his Newcastle career since joining from local rivals Sunderland on a free transfer in the summer.
The midfielder became the first player since maverick goalkeeper Lionel Perez in 1998 to leave the Black Cats for the Magpies.
Described by Newcastle boss Alan Pardew as "versatile" and a "great passer", he made 33 appearances last season as Sunderland avoided relegation with a late surge and reached the final of the Capital One Cup.
Hodgson said: "I spoke to someone who knows him well and he called him the 'Ginger Pirlo' and it would be nice if he turned out like that.
"I was impressed with him last year and he has an awful lot to offer. He is a very talented player. Jack plays in a position where vacancies can quickly arise and we will see how he gets on."
Squad to face Norway and Switzerland
Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Southampton), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Hart (Manchester City)
Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Calum Chambers (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Everton)
Midfielders: Jack Colback (Newcastle United), Fabian Delph (Aston Villa), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal) Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)
Forwards: Rickie Lambert (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United)
- Published28 August 2014
- Published28 August 2014
- Published28 August 2014