Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell has been called up to the full England squad for the first time.
The Blues Academy product has been a regular for the Under-21s but has never been included in Fabio Capello’s senior party before.
Rodwell is joined in the squad for games against Spain (November 12) and Sweden (November 15) by Everton teammates Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines.
Having long been touted for a bright future with the national team, Rodwell has represented the Three Lions throughout the age groups and has now amassed an impressive 20 caps for Stuart Pearce’s Under-21s.
His call-up is reward for an impressive start to the season. The 20-year-old has been one of Everton’s most consistent performers and crowned another impressive individual display with a goal at Newcastle on Saturday.
Asked on Friday about his young charge being selected by Capello, Rodwell’s club manager David Moyes backed him to do well.
“I think Jack is obviously going to be mentioned (with regard to an England call-up),” said Moyes. “He has played well in the games. He is starting to find his feet here and is starting to look much more composed and confident in the games – we are happy with how he is going.
“I think if selected Jack wouldn’t let anyone down because, when it comes to international football, he has some really good qualities.”
Jagielka and Baines have been regulars in Capello’s squads throughout their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign and, with the Italian set to use the two games to experiment and assess a wide range of players, all three of the Blues’ contingent will be hopeful of time on the pitch.
England squad: Scott Carson (Bursapor), Joe Hart (Manchester City), David Stockdale (Ipswich Town - loan from Fulham); Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Bolton Wanderers), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Joleon Lescott (Manchester City), John Terry (Chelsea), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur); Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Manchester City), Scott Parker (Tottenham Hotspur), Jack Rodwell (Everton), Theo Walcott (Arsenal); Gabby Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Darren Bent (Aston Villa), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United), Bobby Zamora (Fulham)
