Sunday 15 March 2015 17:57, UK
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has backed Danny Rose for an England call-up, amid speculation the left-back could represent Jamaica instead.
Rose is yet to win a full senior England cap, despite making 29 appearances for the U21s, and it is believed he is being targeted by Jamaica ahead of June's Copa America.
The 24-year-old would qualify for the Caribbean country through his grandfather, but his club manager has praised his recent form and talked up the possibility of a place in Roy Hodgson’s team.
“So far he has been the best left-back this season,“ said Pochettino. “His performances have been great. But they are not my decisions, it's always Roy Hodgson's decision."
The number of games we play is more than the European teams - I think this is the key, the teams in the other leagues arrive more fresh than the English teams. Our competition is more tough.
With Leighton Baines injured, and Luke Shaw and Kieran Gibbs having inconsistent seasons, Rose could find a way back into the England squad for the first time since September, when he sat on the bench for games against Norway and Switzerland.
Hodgson names his squad on Thursday for a European Championship qualifier at home to Lithuania, followed by a friendly against Italy in Turin.
If Rose is included, he could feature alongside Tottenham team-mate Harry Kane, who this week won his second consecutive Barclays Premier League Player of the Month award.
'Potential'
The 21-year-old is widely expected to receive his first international call-up after scoring 16 Premier League goals this season - more than any other Englishman.
But Pochettino believes it is too early to crown Kane as the player of the season. "So far he is a player that deserves a lot of praise," he said. "But we have a lot of games ahead to decide who is the player of the year.
“He works very hard in training, his potential is massive, and he can improve more. That is our idea, for him to improve his game every week."
