Callum Wilson was under consideration for England call, Roy Hodgson reveals

England manager Roy Hodgson has revealed Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson was being considered for a place in his squad before suffering a 'tragic injury'.

Wilson was injured in Bournemouth's Premier League clash with Stoke City last weekend, and knee surgery is set to keep him on the sidelines for the majority of the 2015/16 season.

Hodgson was keen to give a handful of younger players a chance in the European Qualifers against Estonia and Lithuania later this month, with Spurs midfielder Dele Alli and Liverpool striker Danny Ings called up for the first time.

And Hodgson admitted Wilson was another possible contender for a place, as he said: "He's been b***** unlucky.

"He was on the radar. He has already played for the U21s so we know about him but he obviously came under consideration after his excellent start this season.

"I am very disappointed by the injury. I can't say he would have necessarily been in the squad because I am happy with the players we have got, but we think Callum has a lot of ability and lots of qualities and he is one that we certainly would have continued to follow quite closely.

"But now I have to wait a few months because of his tragic injury."

Hodgson also tackled the position with regards to Ashley Young, with the Manchester United player again overlooked for a place - he has been in good form for his club over the last 18 months but his last England call came more than two years ago.

"We haven't got anything against Ashley Young," Hodgson added.

"But if I am going to pick Ashley Young it will be because there is a distinct place in the team where I can see him coming in and playing every game between now and France [2016]. I will not bring him in to be a luxury reserve."

One player who is in Hodgson's squad is striker Harry Kane, and the England coach has told the Tottenham star to ignore any doubters after a slow start to the season.

Kane got off the mark in Tottenham's 4-1 win over Manchester City last weekend, with Hodgson in attendance, and he said: "I have seen him play several times this year and I don't think he is playing badly at all.

"I was really pleased to see him score a goal, which I saw was picked up by the TV cameras. It surprised me because I normally watch games stony-faced, but I was so pleased for the lad that even I could not resist that one.

The bottom line is that you don't become a good or bad player based on a period of three or four weeks.

"The bottom line is that you don't become a good or bad player based on a period of three or four weeks.

"What worries me is that the players hear from people like me and [Spurs manager Mauricio] Pochettino: 'Don't worry, the goals will come. You are a good player. Keep doing what you are doing', but he is reading 'You are no good'.

"That is the problem and that is where you talk about mentality. In my ideal world a player's mentality will be strong and he will block out the outside comments and influences and listen more to what he is being told by the people within football who believe in him, and he will continue to believe in himself."