Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater earned a first England call-up yesterday as manager Roy Hodgson announced a 24-man squad for pre-Euro 2016 friendlies against world champions Germany and Netherlands.

The 26-year-old has been a central figure in Leicester’s astonishing Premier League title challenge, helping the leaders forge five points clear of Tottenham Hotspur with eight games remaining.

Leicester striker Jamie Vardy, joint top scorer in the league with Spurs’ Harry Kane, is also included in the squad.

England play Germany in Berlin on March 26 and Netherlands at Wembley three days later.

Drinkwater is the only newcomer in a squad missing key players through injury.

“What he’s done has been evident to everybody. He’s had a fantastic season in a team that’s having a fantastic season. But even last year we were aware of him,” Hodgson told a news conference.

“I thought it was a good opportunity to bring him in to see if he can reproduce the type of football and the quality he shows for Leicester.”

Asked whether this was the last chance for anyone from outside the set-up to force their way in for Euro 2016 in France in June, Hodgson said that was not the case.

“It would be foolish to put barriers in place,” Hodgson said.

“It’s going to be a task for people to break in because anyone who breaks in is going to take the place of someone who’s been there for the last two years doing quite well.

“But I’m not prepared to say this is it.”

The Squad

Goalkeepers: J. Butland (Stoke City), F. Forster (Southampton), J. Hart (Man. City).

Defenders: R. Bertrand (Southampton), G. Cahill (Chelsea), N. Clyne (Liverpool), P. Jagielka (Everton), D. Rose (Tottenham), C. Smalling (Man. Utd), J. Stones (Everton), K. Walker (Tottenham).

Midfielders: D. Alli (Tottenham), R. Barkley (Everton), E. Dier (Tottenham), D. Drinkwater (Leicester), J. Henderson (Liverpool), A. Lallana (Liverpool), J. Milner (Liverpool), R. Sterling (Man. City).

Strikers: H. Kane (Tottenham), D. Sturridge (Liverpool), J. Vardy (Leicester), T. Walcott (Arsenal), D. Welbeck (Arsenal).

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