Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri sends stern message to Arsenal and Man United

But the 28-year-old is in the form of his life, and is the Premier League’s leading goal scorer this season with 11 goals – four more than his nearest rivals, teammate Riyad Mahrez and Odion Ighalo of Watford.

At the time it was a decision which received a lot of attention, but Schmeichel feels that Ranieri deserves a huge amount of credit for changing opinions of him so quickly.

The uncapped Tottenham player has made nine appearances for the England Under-21s. “I think it’s up to every club manager to use his players the way he wants to use them and get his team to play the way he wants to. Now if we will restrict it to, ‘Well you are exclusively a striker when you’ve acquired the quantity 9 in your again, ‘ you are speaking a few world that I do not absolutely perceive”.

“I would be lying if I didn’t say I was surprised, pleasantly surprised”, Hodgson said.

The England boss hopes to use the extended trip as an early opportunity to get players used to staying and playing in different environments – something Wayne Rooney knows all about.

He’s 28, so will have minimal sell-on value, but if his goals propel Liverpool (or whatever team he signs for) to success, then that won’t matter.

“November to June is a very long period of time and so many things can happen”, he said.

Expectations of beating the two glamorous upcoming opponents have been tempered by the injuries, however.

“Now they are working for Leicester and they have to do their best for us”.

“We will see how these boys do”. We will certainly learn a lot after these two games. “I will be wiser than I am today and hopefully have my feet still on the ground”.

Hodgson was sanguine about missing so many key players, given he is now stepping up his preparations for the Euro, and gave a few more details of his plan to play warm-up games around the country and a farewell match at Wembley Stadium before England head for France. “People say that he shouldn’t be in the England team, but he got there by playing really well for a whole season with Leicester, and he has kicked on massively”.