Pulis backs duo for England

Etherington: Praised by Pulis

Stoke manager Tony Pulis has called for Matthew Etherington and Ryan Shawcross to be named in the England squad.

Fabio Capello is due to select his squad on Monday for their Euro 2012 qualifying game against Montenegro on October 12th after the Three Lions' 100 per cent start in their group.

The winger and centre-back have proved a vital part of the Potters' unbeaten run in September, which saw them bounce back from three defeats in their first three games.

Etherington, however, has never received international recognition despite some excellent displays for the club since moving from West Ham in January 2009, and he won the club's player of the year award last season.

"In my opinion they must be very, very close. I'm not going to tell Capello who to pick, that's up to him and he's an experienced enough manager to know his own mind. But the two lads haven't done themselves any harm at all," Pulis said.

Exceptional

"Matty's been exceptional.

"He's got everything you could want. He's quick, he's got good feet and he doesn't half work hard for the team."

Shawcross has been called up to the senior side before, but was an unused substitute in a friendly against Egypt in March.

Pulis gave the 22-year-old the captain's armband at the start of the season, and he was hopeful that the added responsibility would allow him to step up his game.

"I gave it to him to really take him on to the next level. Ryan's a very quiet lad and you just hope he grows with the captaincy and comes out of that shell a little bit. As he grows older and more experienced, that will become a strength of his as a leader."