Cleverley joins Everton's England contingent

, 11 February, 36comments  |  Jump to most recent
Tom Cleverley has been invited along with four other Blues players to an England get-together at St George's Park.

In a sign that he is back in Roy Hodgson's thoughts ahead of Euro2016, the midfielder joins team-mates Ross Barkley, John Stones, Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines in the list of Everton's English players who were requested to attend.

Cleverley hasn't played for his country since 2013 and has, in the interim, seen his stock fall at Manchester United and then spent a season on loan with a struggling Aston Villa side under two different managers.

He made a strong and immediate impression after arriving at Goodison Park on a free transfer last summer, however, and has become an important player in Roberto Martinez's team and his improved form has been acknowledged by the national team manager.

Martinez was pleased for the 25-year-old, telling evertonfc.com: “It is great news for Tom. I think he has been in Roy Hodgson’s thoughts for a long time now. Before he signed, Tom was part of the England set-up at that particular moment and he has really good experience in that group.

“I think it is a good idea for the England camp to get together, review what they have done and have their vision going forward.

“From our point of view, it shows the strength that we have with the group of England players we have here, plus one or two others that can help the national team from now until the end of the season.”

Hodgson is busy finalising in his mind the players he would prefer to take to France in June for the European Championships and, in addition to the five Blues invited on this occasion, Aaron Lennon is also hoping his impressive recent form will get him noticed.

 

Reader Comments (36)

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Dan Aspinall
1 Posted 11/02/2016 at 17:34:01
Fully deserved. He’s gonna be an important player for the next few years. Bad hair-do’s though...
Brian Williams
2 Posted 11/02/2016 at 17:36:35
Excellent. That'll give the lad extra impetus when he plays for us!
Geoff Evans
3 Posted 11/02/2016 at 17:58:39
Well deserved, willing lad who covers others mistakes.
Harold Matthews
4 Posted 11/02/2016 at 18:35:19
Hodgson was at the Stoke game and was obviously impressed.
Aaron Lancaster
5 Posted 11/02/2016 at 18:39:23
I think Aaron Lennon deserves a chance too, but I'm happy for Cleverly.
Ste Traverse
6 Posted 11/02/2016 at 18:39:30
Cleverley has really come into his own in recent weeks. Let's hope this gives him a further boost in confidence and we see even more from him.
Brent Stephens
7 Posted 11/02/2016 at 18:44:05
Yes! Deserved recognition. He's tightening up the left of that midfield area and giving greater protection to our LB area. Clearly Hodgson still rates Jags, Stones and Baines.
Peter Murray
8 Posted 11/02/2016 at 18:45:15
You can’t keep a good man down. Well done,Tom. Well done,Roberto.
Stephen Brown
9 Posted 11/02/2016 at 18:58:58
5 players in the England squad! When's the last time that happened? 86 maybe ?

I remember in the nineties it was big news when one of our players got a call up and it would be the only time I'd have a look at an England game. Seem to vaguely remember Keown scoring a cracker for England when he was still with us?!

Jim Bennings
10 Posted 11/02/2016 at 19:07:06
Aaron Lennon is and always has been better than Raheem Sterling.

Great news for Tom Cleverley though!

Jim Jennings
11 Posted 11/02/2016 at 19:15:48
"Aaron Lennon is and always has been better than Raheem Sterling."

There's blinkered and then there's that.

Kevin Turner
12 Posted 11/02/2016 at 19:19:59
Everton and England selection hasn’t always gone hand in hand. Those of a certain age and those who know their history will know who was our greatest uncapped player EVER!!! The late, great and much missed Howard Kendall.
Les Martin
13 Posted 11/02/2016 at 19:49:09
A far better footballer than initially given credit for by many here. To come through the Man Utd ranks the way he did shows he is a player of ability but, due to injury, lost his way a little. Now he is fully fit and starting to shine and still young.

I think he plays really well on the left, strengthens the whole midfield, he can tackle and pass very well. We play better as a team when he is included. His re inclusion in the England set up will only strengthen his resolve and improve him as a player.

I believe he will become a fans' favourite due to his solid dependable displays; I also expect him to score a few goals too.

Brian Williams
14 Posted 11/02/2016 at 20:03:44
Ok Jim we get it.......:-)
Jamie McNally
15 Posted 11/02/2016 at 20:24:55
Surely Lennon has earnt a call up more than Cleverley?

I'm a bit baffled by that.

Denis Richardson
16 Posted 11/02/2016 at 20:33:13
Stephen 7, this is not the squad. It's a preliminary call up which includes 40 players...

Final squad will be around 24. Very much doubt all out boys will make the cut.

Tony Hill
17 Posted 11/02/2016 at 20:37:38
I think both Lennon and Cleverley have been major pluses and, in fairness, successes for RM. I don't think either will make the final squad but I'm delighted they play for us and both have good years left in them.
Rob Dolby
18 Posted 11/02/2016 at 20:49:13
Without being too unkind. The lad is doing a job for us at left mid and looks to me like a younger Leon Osman. A nice neat and tidy footballer. Not sure he deserves a place above Drinkwater.
Anthony Dwyer
19 Posted 12/02/2016 at 00:30:19
All the talk of Lennon is a little over the top, Lennon is in a rich vien of form but its only lasted a month or so.

Walcott, Ox, and Sterling are tough competition for any player, Lennon will need to keep this form up until the end of the season before even being considered.

Cleverly is a tidy enough player, his competition is much seeker, Cleverly is more than capable in a number of roles, if he is to play central, he will be competing for 3 positions with only players at the level of Milner, Henderson and lallana. Better players in his position such as Carrick and Wilshere are injury prone, giving Cleverly a good chance to get involved in the European Championship squad.

James Stewart
20 Posted 12/02/2016 at 02:34:48
Lennon deserves it more.
Richard Lyons
21 Posted 12/02/2016 at 06:25:54
How typical that we have 3 defenders in the England set-up when our defence has been so leaky this season... No doubt if Tim was English, he'd be one of the goal-keepers in the squad.
Tony Waring
23 Posted 12/02/2016 at 09:40:26
Spot on Kevin (#12). How Kendall never got a cap is one of football's great mysteries. Who was deemed better then him...............damned if I can recall them. Cannot remember if Paul Bracewell ever succeeded internationally; he was a superb midfielder also and what about Snodin whose career was cut short so cruelly.
Jack Farrell
24 Posted 12/02/2016 at 10:57:35
A neat tidy footballer with a great work ethic, could apply that statement to Cleverly or Lennon.
Shane Corcoran
25 Posted 12/02/2016 at 11:43:12
Not convinced by Cleverley yet. Lennon has played three good games in a row. Love his work rate and intelligence but let's not get carried away.

Have Jim Jennings and Jim Bennings always existed on here together?

Jim Bennings
26 Posted 12/02/2016 at 12:06:13
Every time I've seen Sterling both for club and country he's flattered to deceive.

He can't hit a ball, isn't a great finisher and isn't great at working as a team player (something which Lennon is).

Sterling is living off the back of one great season at Liverpool in which Gerrard, Suarez and a fit Sturridge carried him along.

Lennon had been a key player in a very good Tottenham team for 7/8 years and you ask any Spurs fan their opinion of him.

England wingers like Oxlade Chamberlain, Sterling etc, usually flatter to deceive.

Jim Bennings
27 Posted 12/02/2016 at 12:17:23
Shane

Have forgotten Lennon's impact lastseason when he transformed a team that looked to be sleepwalking into a Spring-time relegation battle.?

He's been underused this season mostly down to Deulofeu's excellence but it's no coincidence the team looks more solid and balanced and Coleman looks better for having Lennon there.

Deulofeu is a fantastically skillful player that can change a game but he's also at the moment a flawed genius that over the coming years will need to work on aspects of his game in order to be a true great, such as fitness for a start.

Lennon is not a bad player to come in and take the mantle while Gerry has a breather.

Shane Corcoran
28 Posted 12/02/2016 at 12:37:46
Jim, I probably have. I'm not knocking him at all. I'm just saying as far as an England call-up goes, which would be based on current form, then I think Hodgson would need to see a longer run of form for him to be considered.
Shane Corcoran
29 Posted 12/02/2016 at 12:38:11
Jim, I also agree on Sterling. He's had a terrible season.
John Daley
30 Posted 12/02/2016 at 12:50:48
"“I think it is a good idea for the England camp to get together, review what they have done and have their vision going forward."

I think it's a totally redundant idea and the sort on non-event that usually ends up with an Everton player picking up a totally avoidable injury. Seriously, what is the point?

Winston Williamson
31 Posted 12/02/2016 at 13:16:01
Cleverley is a 'steady-eddie' - you'll rarely get a poor game from him, but you'll also rarely get a great game from him. Players like this are good for a team, in that they have a set level of performance - dependable.

Jim B is right about Spurs fans opinion of Lennon too! Never met a Spurss fan with a bad word to say on the lad!

Neither would make my England team:

Hart
Walker, Jags, Cahill, Baines

Wilshere, Barkley, Ali

Walcott, Kane, Rooney

Eugene Ruane
32 Posted 12/02/2016 at 13:48:12
If it gives him a boost and helps his confidence/performance (so there’s a benefit for us) fine with me.

In fact I’m fine with him attending as many of these ’you’re part of the gang’ things as possible.

It’s just the actual playing for England in tournaments I’m against, as that’s where a player’s confidence/hamstrings (etc) are most likely to end up goosed.

Shane Corcoran
33 Posted 12/02/2016 at 14:29:01
John #29, for some reason I thought it was more a meet and chat session than any football work being done. Am I wrong?
John Daley
34 Posted 12/02/2016 at 15:58:37
Ah, I don't know Shane. You're probably right but even so, it wouldn't surprise me if, at this 'review' and reiteration of Roy's England 'vision', Stones or someone ended up being temporarily blinded by Hodgson 'Roy Hattersley'ing some half-chewed, saliva sodden, Scampi into his eye whilst trying to pronounce the word 'wetwospwectwiv' or something.
Philip Holding
37 Posted 12/02/2016 at 20:28:16
While I don’t really care about the England national team, I always want our lads to do well. I wasn’t a fan of Cleverley at Man Utd or Aston Villa but he looks so much better with us. Works hard and his passing and crossing are top notch. His technique when volleying the ball is some of the best I’ve seen; he's been brilliant on a free transfer.
Don Alexander
42 Posted 13/02/2016 at 01:14:40
Richard Lyons at #21 makes a good point in that three of our defenders are in the group. To me that indicates what everyone in football knows; namely that they're really good but playing for a manger whose clueless in, er, what's it called?.... "defending".

For Tony Waring's info at #22, assuming he wasn't being tongue-in-cheek, Howie in Ramsey's mind never measured up to Alan Mullery/Peter Storey (go figure if you can) and Bracers was displaced by Ray Wilkins. Given that Bobby Robson picked Reidy it amazed me at the time that he dispensed with Reidy's axle. As Peter said at the time, "Paul does all my running for me!" As far as I could see Raymondo never did his own running, never mind anyone else's.

Gavin McGarvey
43 Posted 13/02/2016 at 08:17:16
I'm happy for Cleverley. He wasn't the most exciting signing, but he's proven to be a decent player and I think he's earned his call up. Regarding Lennon, he's up against a lot of players who are seen as more exciting, and good as he is, I can't see it happening.

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