England call for Cheltenham-born Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Eric Dier

The 30-year-old has endured a hard season at club level after becoming England’s all-time top goalscorer back in September – when a penalty in the 2-0 win over Switzerland saw him overtake Bobby Charlton.

With first team regulars such as Jordan Henderson, Jack Wilshere, Leighton Baines and Daniel Sturridge still unavailable, Hodgson has also lost Arsenal pair Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain as well as Liverpool striker Danny Ings from his last squad.

“We do need someone that can support Michael Carrick, or cover Carrick, and Eric interests me most, especially in terms of his future development”.

Dier, who grew up in Portugal and played for Lisbon club Sporting until joining Tottenham in 2014, has impressed for his club this season in a holding role.

“We certainly aren’t bringing players in from left field”.

Hodgson said that he was trying to “defuse hype” around Vardy, by not being excessively swayed by his recent goal record. “And to make one very important point, that an England shirt is a very valuable commodity”.

Not since the Old Trafford friendly with Spain in February 2007 have England played on the road, but FA chief executive Martin Glenn has confirmed the governing body plan to do just that next year.

Soccer Saturday pundit Matt Le Tissier believes that Eric Dier’s England call-up reflects a lack of quality options for Roy Hodgson. Right from the start he surprised me with his composure in there.

“We will see how these boys do”.

Mathieu Valbuena and Karim Benzema, embroiled in a sextape scandal, were omitted from France’s squad on Thursday for the games with Germany and England later this month while Hatem Ben Arfa was recalled. “He should be happy to be in the squad, he should be happy to convince us he should be in the team.” he said.

“He is a central defender who is capable of stepping forward and doing a good defensive job in the centre of midfield to allow other players around him to show of their more extravagant talents”. It’s in front of the FA and there are a lot of things for them to deal with.