Ryan Bertrand will join up with the England squad ahead of the friendly against Italy, the Southampton official club’s website has announced.
INTERNATIONALS: @ryanbertrand3 has been added to the @england squad for Tuesday’s game against Italy. #saintsfc pic.twitter.com/2suQupmPCZ
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) March 28, 2015
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The left-back was surprisingly overlooked when the original squad was revealed last week by manager Roy Hodgson, then when Luke Shaw was forced to withdraw through injury, it was Danny Rose who got the call ahead of the former Chelsea defender.
But with the Tottenham man now unavailable through injury, Hodgson has decided to call up Bertrand after The Daily Mail revealed that first-choice left-back Leighton Baines had been sent back to Everton following the 4-0 win over Lithuania on Friday night.
If selected for the game in Turin, Bertrand will make his third appearance for the national side against same the nation who he made his debut against in August 2012.
His last cap for the Three Lions came a month later in a 2014 World Cup qualifying match against Ukraine, but his good form for the Saints this season has certainly warranted a recall to the senior side and he will battle Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs for a starting berth on Tuesday night.