Roberto Martinez backs Wigan's Callum McManaman for England
Roberto Martinez has urged England boss Roy Hodgson to consider calling up Wigan's FA Cup hero Callum McManaman.
Last Updated: 13/05/13 1:57pm
The Huyton-born winger turned in a man-of-the-match display at Wembley against Manchester City on Saturday as Wigan upset the odds to defeat Roberto Mancini's expensively assembled side 1-0 and claim their first major trophy.
The 22-year-old is in the form of his career having bagged crucial goals against Tottenham and West Brom over the last few weeks prior to his Wembley heroics.
It caps a fairy-tale turnaround for a player who thought his football dreams were over when he was released by boyhood club Everton at the age of 16 before moving to the DW Stadium on a free transfer.
Three Lions manager Hodgson is set to name his squad for friendlies with the Republic of Ireland and Brazil on Thursday, and Martinez believes McManaman, who was expected to get a call-up for the Under-21s, should be given a chance with the senior squad.
"Callum has already played for England at Under-20 level," said Martinez. "He would normally go to the Under-21s.
"The good thing that makes him different and unique is that he is another type of winger. He takes people on, he enjoys risking possession in the right areas and is a massive threat.
"He will be a big asset for England, although it's for the England manager to decide [whether to pick him].
"He won't have any problem with coping with it if it comes. The bigger the occasion, the better he responds. That's the way he is. You will see a lot more of Callum."
