Luke Shaw inspired by Saints' England trail-blazers

England new boy Luke Shaw will use his Southampton team-mates as inspiration as he looks to impress Roy Hodgson with the World Cup approaching.

The 18-year-old Saints left-back received his first Senior call-up for the Three Lions encounter with Denmark on Wednesday.

The game will be the last chance for Hodgson to assess the players before he has to name his 30-man long squad ahead of the main event in Brazil this summer.

Speaking exclusively to TheFA.com alongside Rickie Lambert at the team hotel, Shaw admits he was nervous meeting up with the squad on Sunday, but enjoyed his first training session.

"It’s been very good so far, obviously my first day training was a second day of recovery [following Saturday's Southampton game] but I still did join in a little bit with the lads," he said.

"We did a bit of a possession drill which helped with my confidence, I can't wait to get training again.

"I was quite nervous coming here first, they are all massive names and a few years ago I was watching them on telly. So to be talking and chatting with some of them and playing with them is great."

Shaw was welcomed into the fold by two Senior names who he'll be competing with for a place at left-back.

Luke Shaw in action during his first senior training session

Ashley Cole and Leighton Baines have won 128 caps between them, but he says he's relishing the chance to learn from two of England's best full-backs.

"For a youngster like me to come into that environment is nerve-wracking," Shaw said.

"To have competition like that is amazing for me and I’m only going to thrive off it.

"If I can keep working hard in training and games at my club, hopefully I might be able to get a chance and who knows what will happen."

In August, Shaw's club-mate Lambert became a trail-blazer for England's recent influx of Southampton players.

The striker came off the bench at Wembley to head the winner against Scotland, and Shaw admits he was beaming with pride as he watched the game at home.

And the impact of Lambert gave other Saints stars belief that England honours were achievable. 

"I remember I was sitting on my sofa, I saw the corner coming in I didn’t know it was him at first, I thought it was Cahill," admitted Shaw.

"When I saw him running off it was a very proud moment for me and I can’t imagine how he felt.

Three of England's four Saints: Shaw, Rodriguez and Lambert

"All the lads at Southampton were very pleased and proud for someone from Southampton to do that.

"I think most of the lads thought that [England honours were possible]."

He added: "Ads [Lallana] got called up and Jay [Rodriguez], then it did make us realise that they are looking at clubs like Southampton and if we’re playing well then we’re going to get an opportunity.

"If you do get a chance you’ve got to give everything and try to impress the manager. Hopefully I can do it this week."