‘Door still open for World Cup hopefuls’

England coach Roy Hodgson named a 30-man squad on Thursday for next week’s friendly with Denmark but told the players not included they still had a chance of making his final 23-man squad for the World Cup finals.

West Ham United’s Andy Carroll, Sunderland’s Adam Johnson and Everton midfielder Gareth Barry were all notable absentees but, Hodgson told reporters at Wembley: “It would be very foolish of me in March to give a definitive 30 man squad (for the World Cup).

“This is the squad I have chosen for now. Andy Carroll has hardly played since his injury, Adam Johnson is a player we know and because of the competition we have decided not include him in this squad. The same with Gareth Barry.”

However, there was a first call-up for Southampton’s teenage left back Luke Shaw, who will still only be 18 when the World Cup starts in June.