Friday 13 February 2015 10:59, UK
Roy Hodgson has dropped a broad hint that Tottenham's in-form striker Harry Kane will be in his next England squad.
Kane has 23 goals already this season, including both in the recent north London derby win over Arsenal, and his form earned him a new five-and-a-half-year contract earlier this month.
And in a briefing with journalists on Thursday evening Hodgson said the 21-year-old has proved he deserves a first senior call-up having also scored eight goals in his 10 caps for the England U21s.
"Is he worth a place in the squad now? Of course he is," said Hodgson, who is due to name a squad on March 19 for a European Qualifier against Lithuania and a friendly against Italy.
"We've brought a lot of young players in during my time. We had Saido Berahino in the last squad. He (Kane) certainly deserves a place in the squad as much as, say, Saido did.
"If your question is, 'Is he worthy of a place like Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge, whoever?' Well, that's something he'll have to prove. But unless I give him a chance in the squad, he'll never get a chance to prove that anyway.
"I like to think I do show a certain degree of loyalty to players who have been playing for a while and who I know I can trust.
"But I also like to think that I'm prepared to give someone a chance when he's really showing with his current form that he's worthy of a place with us.
"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."
Hodgson admitted last year that there was a dearth of talented young forwards available to him, which led to Rickie Lambert being handed his international debut.
But now the former Fulham boss has Kane, the uncapped Danny Ings - whom Hodgson name-dropped at a briefing in London on Thursday - and Berahino pushing for a place in his squad.
"Danny Ings has impressed me. I think we need to keep an eye on him," Hodgson added of the 22-year-old striker, who has scored nine goals for Burnley this season.
Hodgson shrugged off Berahino's off-field indiscretions - the striker was recently reprimanded by the Football Association over his recent drink-driving ban - adding: "As far as we are concerned, the matter is closed."
And he gave similar short shrift to questions about Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere's recent brush with a shisha pipe.
"It isn't ideal but we don't live in an ideal world," Hodgson added. "I am happy it has been dealt with."
Hodgson also mentioned Spurs midfielder Ryan Mason and Liverpool teenager Jordon Ibe as young players on his radar and welcomed John Stones' recent run of games for Everton.
He said: "John Stones is now back from injury, that's good news for us. I am lucky at the moment, quite a few players have already started to make their mark.
"Ryan Mason is another one, I like the look of him as well. Jordan Ibe is very young and we have a lot of young players like that he would have to jump over."
