England call-ups for Alli and Ings

England manager Roy Hodgson on Thursday handed debut international call-ups to Dele Alli and Danny Ings for the Euro 2016 qualifiers against Estonia and Lithuania.

Alli has been in fine form for Tottenham this season since arriving from MK Dons and Ings has scored two goals in his last three games for Liverpool.

There was no place, however, in Hodgson's 24-man squad for Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge, even though he has recovered from injury.

Southampton left-back Ryan Bertrand is recalled to the squad in place of Luke Shaw, who broke his leg in two places playing for Manchester United against PSV Eindhoven last month.

John Stones is also back in favour and could add to his haul of six caps for his country.

The Everton defender is joined in the party by Manchester United centre-back Phil Jones, who has recovered from a blood clot in his calf.
Jones' United team-mate Michael Carrick is included in the squad for the double-header despite recent injury concerns.

England host Estonia at Wembley on Friday October 9 before they travel to Lithuania for their final qualifier three days later.

Roy Hodgson's side have already qualified for Euro 2016 after winning all eight of their matches so far.

Of Ings, Hodgson said: "Danny is someone we followed very closely at Burnley last year but didn't have a chance to bring him in because of the Under-21s - we never felt we could rob them to have him with us - but now is a good opportunity to bring him in.

"Dele is, I suppose, the more offbeat one in the sense he's so young and has only just broken into the Tottenham team, but we're very impressed with what we've seen.

"It's a good opportunity with so many midfielders away through injury. Who knows where he will end up? He's a very exciting talent."

Turning to Sturridge, Hodgson said: "We can survive without him and are hoping he comes to us in November super-fit, fully recovered and in great form.

"I think it's a strong squad. The game in Lithuania is the one where, if any experimentation takes place, it'll be there. It may damage our chances of getting the perfect 10 (wins) but I'm prepared to accept that.
"I won't be sacrificing the game in any shape or form but I would argue the changes I make in Lithuania could make us stronger because certain players are confident."

England squad, announced on Thursday, for the Euro 2016 qualifiers against Estonia at Wembley on October 9 and Lithuania in Vilnius three days later:

Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Stoke City), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Tom Heaton (Burnley)

Defenders: Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Everton)

Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Ross Barkley (Everton), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), James Milner (Liverpool), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Jonjo Shelvey (Swansea City), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)

Forwards: Danny Ings (Liverpool), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City), Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

Source: AFP