Luke Shaw, Jermain Defoe get England calls

England manager Roy Hodgson on Thursday awarded 18-year-old Southampton left-back Luke Shaw his first senior call-up for next week's friendly match against Denmark at Wembley Stadium. Shaw, an England Under-21 international, is one of three left-backs named in the 30-man squad alongside Chelsea's Ashley Cole and Leighton Baines of Everton. "Everyone who's watched him play recently will not deny that he deserves a place in a large squad list. He's been playing extremely well," Hodgson said of Shaw. "It's a position where we're very well off, but he's a player who wants to compete with the other two for a place on the plane to Brazil and I thought it was the right time to bring him in and give him a chance to show us what he can do." Striker Jermain Defoe retained his place in the squad despite his imminent move from Tottenham Hotspur to Toronto FC, while Cardiff City centre-back Steven Caulker came in for injured Everton man Phil Jagielka. There was a recall for winger Raheem Sterling, following some excellent recent displays for Liverpool, but Sunderland winger Adam Johnson and Everton midfielder Gareth Barry were overlooked despite each advancing strong cases for call-ups in recent weeks. However, Hodgson said that it was not too late for players not selected, including West Ham United striker Andy Carroll, to force their way into his plans for the World Cup. "This is the 30 I've chosen today and I'll stand by it, but but it's not a definitive squad," he told a press conference. "Andy Carroll has hardly played, but we'll keep an eye on him. Johnson of course we know, but with the competition at the moment (in wide areas) I decided not to include him in the squad. "Gareth Barry has not been with us for these past two years, but I know him and I'd not be averse to calling him up if there was a place in the team." England's friendly against Denmark next Wednesday will be Hodgson's last opportunity to assess the players at his disposal before he names his squad for the World Cup in Brazil, which begins on June 12. England 30-man squad to play Denmark in friendly game at Wembley Stadium on March 5, announced by manager Roy Hodgson on Thursday: Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Celtic/SCO), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Hart (Manchester City), John Ruddy (Norwich City) Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Steven Caulker (Cardiff City/WAL), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Luke Shaw (Southampton), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur).                          Midfielders: Ross Barkley (Everton), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Southampton), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) Forwards: Jermain Defoe (Toronto FC/CAN), Rickie Lambert (Southampton), Jay Rodriguez (Southampton), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United) Source: AFP