Ex-Claret Jay Rodriguez gets England call-up

After scoring four goals in all competitions for Southampton this term, the 24-year-old earned selection alongside forwards Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Welbeck, Jermain Defoe and fellow Saint Rickie Lambert.

Burnley-born Rodriguez forced a route in to Brian Laws’s starting XI at Turf Moor early in the 2010/11 campaign after making a number of substitute appearances and scored seven times before featuring for Stuart Pearce’s Under 21 squad in February, where he made his only appearance away in Italy at Serie B side Empoli’s Stadio Carlo Castellani.

Following the dismissal of Laws, the one-time Barden pupil continued to flourish under new man Eddie Howe as he rounded off the campaign with 15 goals in total.

Rodriguez went on to score 21 times in 42 appearances the following season before joining Southampton on a four-year deal in the summer of 2012 after a deal in the region of £7m. had been struck between the two clubs.

The Three Lions take on Chile at Wembley on Friday, November 15th before hosting Germany the following Tuesday.

The England squad is as follows:

Goalkeepers

Fraser Forster, Joe Hart, John Ruddy

Defenders

Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Kieran Gibbs, Phil Jagielka, Glen Johnson, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Kyle Walker

Midfielders

Ross Barkley, Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley, Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, Frank Lampard, James Milner, Andros Townsend, Jack Wilshere

Forwards

Jermain Defoe, Rickie Lambert, Jay Rodriguez, Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, Daniel Welbeck.