Sterling and Caulker given nod as Hodgson looks to the future

Raheem Sterling and Steven Caulker are set to receive their first proper call-ups to the England squad for next month's friendly against Sweden.

England manager Roy Hodgson has suggested the pair - along with Arsenal's Carl Jenkinson - will be among the young players he wants to include for the match in Stockholm on November 14.

Sterling was a late inclusion in Hodgson's squad for the game against Ukraine in September but did not feature, while Arsenal defender Jenkinson has trained with the senior players and Caulker has also been close.

Sterling, who has been a revelation since breaking into the Liverpool team, then returned to the Under-21 squad for the Euro 2013 play-off against Serbia.

Hodgson said that he might have been included in the squad for the last two World Cup qualifiers - against San Marino and Poland - had he not been needed by the Under-21s.

"Sterling we allowed to go with the Under-21s and we might well have taken him into our squad had they not had such an important game," Hodgson said, while confirming that he was now "of course" planning to allow Sterling to make the step up.

Caulker - who was also in the Under-21 squad - is also set to be called up with Hodgson hoping that the Manchester United pair of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones will soon return to fitness. Of Smalling, Hodgson said: "I'd like to think he will come into the squad. The same with Phil Jones."

Hodgson has also suggested he is interested in Spurs defender Kyle Naughton, who is returning to fitness, and Arsenal's Kieran Gibbs. Hodgson has used 36 players already in the 11 matches he has been in charge of England and has also stated that he intends to use the friendly matches as a chance to blood young players.

Hodgson declared himself disappointed with the passing ability of England's 30-year-old central defenders Phil Jagielka and - in particular - Joleon Lescott after last week's World Cup qualifier away to Poland which ended in a 1-1 draw.

"At the back, our two centre-backs, Joleon in particular, didn't have a good moment on the ball," Hodgson admitted. "He gave the ball away, that's pretty obvious."

With John Terry retired from international football and Rio Ferdinand continually overlooked it means that there is an opportunity for Jones and Smalling - as well as Caulker - to stake claims. Hodgson said he hoped they can "start to put a few people under pressure".

Hodgson added of the United pair: "When [Sir] Alex [Ferguson] bought these two, he bought them with a view to being a part of Manchester United's future. Let's be honest, if you are an important part of United's future, and you are English, then you have a big part to play for England."