Roy Hodgson believes England have exciting attacking options as the Three Lions look to extend their winning run this season.
With a European Qualifier against Lithuania at Wembley next Friday, followed by a trip to Turin for a friendly with Italy four days later, Hodgson unveiled a 24-man squad on Thursday, which included in-form Tottenham striker Harry Kane for the first time.
UEFA Euro 2016 Qualifying
England v Lithuania
7.45pm Friday 27 March 2015
Wembley Stadium
Buy Tickets Here
International Match
Italy v England
8.45pm (local) Tuesday 31 March 2015
Juventus Stadium
And, with an average age of just 25, Hodgson says there is a lot of talent available to him and it is now up to them to prove themselves at international level.
"From the excitement point of view, we are talking about players who are not as tried and tested perhaps as some we’ve had in the past," he said.
"But I think we’d all agree that they’ve got talent, there’s potential there, they’ve got skill levels that we haven’t always seen.
"They’ve got pace that we haven’t always seen. Now it’s up to them, if you like, to keep improving."
He continued: "They’ve all broken through and no-one would be in this list without having broken through. But breaking through and getting a foot on the ladder is one thing, it’s climbing it which is a bit more difficult.
"Getting to the top is the easy part, staying there is the hard part."
Harry Kane has scored eight in ten games for the U21s
While Hodgson has a focus on his team's own fixtures this month, he is also acutely aware of the important games on the Under-21s' calendar as they prepare for the European Championship this summer.
Two defensive members of senior teams in 2014, John Stones and Calum Chambers, are in Gareth Southgate's young squad for their games in Czech Republic and against Germany at Middlesbrough.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Jack Butland also stays with the U21s despite Hodgson being a stopper light following the injury to Ben Foster.
West Brom striker Saido Berahino, who was in Hodgson's set-up for their last two games of last year, returns to Southgate's fold with competition for places at a premium.
But he admits, if they keep performing for club and country, there is no reason they can't step up to a regular place in the senior team.
"If we take John Stones' case, he is very close to our group here but I've got nine players at the moment that I am confident can do the job," said Hodgson.
"I think it was the right moment to let John [go with the U21s] because he is likely to be taking part with them in the summer.
"The same with Jack Butland, who is really our third choice this time. We didn't necessarily want to take him with us, probably not play when he can play on Friday night [in Czech Republic]."
Hodgson selected a 24-man squad for England's first games of 2015
The England boss added: "The same goes for Saido and Danny Ings. Obviously the competition up front is pretty strong. [As well as] Harry Kane, there is Danny Welbeck, Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling.
"That's pretty strong competition and I am talking about what we regard as some of our most important players.
"Before I can start adding the Ings' and the Berahinos, there has got to be a gap somewhere. There has got to be a place for them.
"Coming into the squad, like Berahino did last time, that's fine and we enjoyed having him with us, but when it came to picking the team for the two games he was unable to displace Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck.
"Now Sturridge is back and Sterling has been playing up front, it makes the competition even stronger.
"I hope these players will have a good Under-21 tournament, I hope they will benefit from that.
"And, of course, going forwards towards France 2016, if they keep doing what they are doing with their club teams, they'll be putting these guys I've selected here under more and more pressure."
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