Roy Hodgson insists that crocked Manchester United defender Luke Shaw is still in contention to be selected for England’s Euro 2016 squad.
Shaw has not played since breaking his leg against PSV Eindhoven on September 15, according to BBC Sport, but was previously an England regular.
But Three Lions boss Hodgson has said that there is still time for the 20-year-old to prove his fitness ahead of this summer’s tournament in France.
“Yeah, absolutely [the door is open]. All that remains is for him to get fit enough to be selected,” Hodgson is quoted as saying by BBC Sport.
“Luke Shaw’s a player we believe in, we think is an excellent talent. We think he will be a major competitor with the other left-backs for a place in the squad.”
However, Hodgson has admitted that it could be more difficult for Shaw to stake his claim if he does not feature for United before the end of the season.
“If they [United] decide they don’t want to risk him in the final games, they do want to hold him back, they want to give him a pre-season to get 100% fit, there’s not much I can do,” he adds to BBC Sport.
“I would be a little bit disappointed in that I think the player deserves the opportunity, if he is fully fit, to be given a chance of being selected.”
Shaw began the season promisingly for United and started England’s September qualifiers, but Hodgson is blessed with plenty of alternatives at left-back.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Danny Rose and Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand have been named in the squad for the upcoming friendlies against Germany and Netherlands.
Everton’s Leighton Baines is the most experienced option with 30 caps, but has had his own fitness issues this term, while Arsenal’s Kieran Gibbs has also been in recent squads.
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