England manager Roy Hodgson hints at call-up for Team GB trio

Roy Hodgson believes Team GB trio Ryan Bertrand, Tom Cleverley and Daniel Sturridge are ready to be called into his England squad.

The 64-year-old is eyeing potential call-ups for England’s friendly against Italy at Wembley on 15 August, which is the Three Lions’ first game since their quarter-final elimination by the Azzurri at Euro 2012.

“Most of them are pretty much ready anyway, but one or two of the younger players like Bertrand and Sturridge and like Cleverley may have not been quite so much a fixture in their teams,” said Hodgson.

“Let’s hope the Olympic experience with Team GB has given them a better chance of staking a claim for a regular spot.

“There will be players involved in that game who weren’t part of the Euros and I’m sure Italy will make changes too, so it won’t be two similar line-ups from then but it will be quite interesting to play so soon after our elimination against them.”

Hodgson, who succeeded Fabio Capello as the Three Lions’ boss in May, admitted it has been a tough task trying to decide on his squad with a hectic pre-season campaign seeing Premier League clubs travel to America and Asia.

“It’s been more difficult than usual this year because the clubs have travelled so far,” he added.

“Most of the top clubs have travelled to places like America, China and South Korea so it has been difficult to keep tabs on it.

“But we’ve done the best we can over the last couple of weeks before Friday’s squad announcement and I will manage to see some matches.”

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