England manager Roy Hodgson has named Tottenham striker Harry Kane in his 24-man squad for the Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania on March 27th.
It’s a first senior call-up for the in-form forward, who has scored an outstanding 26 goals in 42 matches in all competitions this season.
The 21-year-old is the top English scorer in the Premier League and Hodgson all but confirmed the striker would be in his squad for the double-header at a briefing in London last month.
“Is he worth a place in the squad now? Of course he is,” said the England manager, who has watched his team win all six of their games since the World Cup.
‘’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.’’
Daniel Sturridge, Fabian Delph and Kyle Walker have also been named in the squad, which was announced on Thursday lunchtime at Wembley, but there was no place for Danny Ings, Ryan Mason or Charlie Austin.
The exclusion of Ings, Mason and 15-goal striker Charlie Austin came as something of a surprise as Hodgson had been expected to include more uncapped players in the party.
West Brom forward Saido Berahino has lost his place in the squad, although there is a chance he could be included in the under-21 squad, which is announced later this afternoon.
In defence, Walker returns after a year-long absence, but there is no place for Glen Johnson, John Stones, or Danny Rose, who was described as the best English left-back in the top flight by his manager Mauricio Pochettino recently.
Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand also misses out as Roy Hodgson has plumped for Luke Shaw, Kieran Gibbs and Leighton Baines as his left-backs.
It’s also worthy of note that the England manager has selected just two goalkeepers in Fraser Forster and Joe Hart.
The squad in full:
GOALKEEPERS: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Fraser Forster (Southampton)
DEFENDERS: Leighton Baines (Everton) , Gary Cahill (Chelsea) , Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton), Keiran 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).
STRIKERS: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal).
The Three Lions take on Group E rivals Lithuania in a Euro 2016 qualifier on March 27th before a friendly with Italy in Turin four days later.