Harry Kane called up to the England squad for clashes with Lithuania and Italy

Harry Kane has been called up to the England squad for the Euro 2016 qualifer against Lithuania and a friendly clash with Italy.

The Tottenham striker has been the former striker this season, scoring 26 goals in 42 games for the north London club.

 

And Roy Hodgson has named the 21-year-old forward in his 24-man squad for their European Championship Qualifier against Lithuania at Wembley next Friday, and the trip to Italy the following Tuesday.

Daniel Sturridge, Fabian Delph and Kyle Walker were named in the squad, but there was no place for Danny Ings, Ryan Mason or Charlie Austin.

Kane has 10 Under-21 caps to his name, but now he will get a chance to prove himself at full international level after being named in the squad for the Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania at Wembley on March 27 and the friendly in Turin four days later.

Hodgson expressed his delight at the form of 21-year-old Kane in a briefing last month so it came as no surprise to see the forward's name on the squad list when it was published on Thursday.

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 misses out as Roy Hodgson has plumped for Luke Shaw, Kieran Gibbs and Leighton Baines as his left-backs.

Manchester United winger Ashley Young misses out despite his recent good form.

And the England manager has selected just two goalkeepers in Fraser Forster and Joe Hart.

England squad for matches against Lithuania and Italy:

Goalkeepers
Fraser Forster (Southampton), Joe Hart (Manchester City) 

Defenders
Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton), Kieran 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) 

Forwards
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal)