Ross Barkley looks set to appear in a more advanced role for England when they face Spain in Alicante on Friday night.
The Three Lions meet the current European champions as they continue their preparations for the Euro 2016 Finals, and the Everton man is in pole position to line up just behind Harry Kane in the Three Lions' attack.
With Wayne Rooney rested and the in-form Jamie Vardy a doubt through injury, Barkley is expected to back-up Tottenham hitman Kane in England's front-line.
Spain v England
International Match
7.45pm, Friday 13 November 2015
Jose Rico Perez Stadium, Alicante
Live on ITV
And, after bagging a goal in his last international outing in Lithuania, Barkley has earned the confidence of the England boss.
"I think Ross is a midfield player, but he’s an attacking midfield player – no question about that – and he has played that role before, playing off a centre-forward," said Hodgson.
"I’ve seen him play for Everton in that position. It’s nothing new to him and it’s a job we think he can do.
"With the other players we’ve got available, I think it can work. We hope it will, we’ll have to wait and see against Spain."
Barkley will collect his 18th England cap if he plays on Friday evening and Hodgson believes he has gone from strength to strength since making his debut in September 2013.
In his last four outings for the Three Lions, Barkley has netted twice, and that is the kind of form that Hodgson says is rubbing off on his appearances back with the Toffees.
“My opinion hasn't changed since we brought him into the squad – and it feels like an eternity ago, certainly well over two years ago – he is a bright young talent," he said.
FATV: The #3Lions trained at the home of @cfhercules this evening ahead of tomorrow's game at the stadium #SPAvENG
https://t.co/cZ69ErA6cU
— England (@england) November 12, 2015
"We have seen him improve on a weekly and monthly basis. Every time he has come to us we think he is a bit better, particularly in the last two games against Estonia and Lithuania when he started and he was man-of-the-match in certainly one of the two games.
"I think he has said that himself that he has gone back to Everton with that form, taken it back there and continued to do well."
Hodgson added: "I feel like the future is incredibly bright for a player like Ross Barkley and it is up to him, as he has said so many times himself, to keep working, to keep developing his game, improve and make sure that whenever the team is announced his is a name I cannot possibly leave out.”
Tickets for England's game against Euro 2016 hosts France at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday 17 November are available to buy online from TheFA.com/tickets.
