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England's 'strong' squad pleases manager Roy Hodgson

Southampton defender Luke Shaw has been named in the England squad for the first time for the friendly against Denmark at Wembley next Wednesday.

The 18-year-old left-back is joined in a 30-man squad by Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling, 19, and Everton midfielder Ross Barkley, 20.

Boss Roy Hodgson has recalled Cardiff defender Steven Caulker, 22, for the first time in more than a year.

But Sunderland's Adam Johnson and Everton loanee Gareth Barry miss out.

Luke Shaw factfile Age 18

Club: Southampton

2013-14 Premier League Appearances: 24 (0 goals, 1 assist, 17 shots)

England Under-21s appearances: 3; Under-17s: 8; Under-16s 6

And Barry's Toffees team-mate Phil Jagielka is absent with a hamstring injury.

Wednesday's game is England's last before Hodgson names his squad for this summer's World Cup in Brazil.

And the national coach said it was the "right moment" for Shaw to be called up. Fellow left-backs Ashley Cole and Leighton Baines are also in the squad, which has only three recognised centre-backs.

Shaw, who has played three times for England Under-21s, made his Saints debut at the age of 16 and was linked with both Manchester United and Chelsea during the January transfer window.

"Anyone who has watched him play would not deny he deserves a place," Hodgson said.

"We are very well off in this position but he wants to compete for a place on the plane to Brazil."

Though they will miss Wednesday's game, Hodgson said Johnson and Barry - plus West Ham striker Andy Carroll - could still win a place in his World Cup squad.

Midfielder Barry, 33, won the last of his 53 England caps in a pre-Euro 2012 friendly against Norway in Oslo.

Johnson, 26, has not featured in the national squad since he was an unused substitute against Poland in 2012, but the winger has scored seven goals in his past nine club appearances.

England's World Cup games 14 June v Italy (Manaus)

19 June v Uruguay (Sao Paulo)

24 June v Costa Rica (Belo Horizonte)

Striker Carroll, 25, last played for England in October 2012 and has made just five appearances for West Ham this season because of a foot injury.

"It would be very foolish of me in March to give a definitive 30-man squad [for the World Cup]," Hodgson said. "This is the squad I have chosen for now.

"Andy Carroll has hardly played, Adam Johnson is a player we know and, because of the competition, we have decided not include him in this squad."

Carroll's fellow forward Jermain Defoe, who has scored 19 goals in 55 England appearances, retains his place despite leaving Tottenham to join Canadian club Toronto.

Hodgson must name his 30-man squad for the World Cup by 13 May and narrow it down to the final 23 by 2 June.

Meanwhile under-21s manager Gareth Southgate has handed a first call-up to Nottingham Forest centre-back Jamaal Lascelles in his 23-man party for the European Championship qualifier against Wales, to be played at Derby's iPro Stadium on Wednesday.

England squad:

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Celtic), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Hart (Manchester City), John Ruddy (Norwich City).

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Steven Caulker (Cardiff City), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Luke Shaw (Southampton), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur).

Midfielders: Ross Barkley (Everton), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Southampton), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal).

Forwards: Jermain Defoe (Toronto FC), Rickie Lambert (Southampton), Jay Rodriguez (Southampton), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Daniel Welbeck (Manchester United).

England under-21 squad:

Goalkeepers: Jonathan Bond (Watford), Jack Butland (Leeds United, on loan from Stoke City), Sam Johnstone (Doncaster Rovers, on loan from Manchester United).

Defenders: Carl Jenkinson (Arsenal), Ezekiel Fryers (Tottenham Hotspur), Michael Keane (Manchester United), Jamaal Lascelles (Nottingham Forest), Liam Moore (Leicester City), Jack Robinson (Blackpool, on loan from Liverpool), John Stones (Everton).

Midfielders: Tom Carroll (QPR, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Nathaniel Chalobah (Middlesbrough, on loan from Chelsea), Will Hughes (Derby County), Thomas Ince (Crystal Palace, on loan from Blackpool), Jesse Lingard (Brighton & Hove Albion, on loan from Manchester United), Ravel Morrison (QPR, on loan from West Ham United), Nathan Redmond (Norwich City), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Wilfried Zaha (Cardiff City, on loan from Manchester United).

Forwards: Patrick Bamford (Derby County, on loan from Chelsea), Saido Berahino (West Bromwich Albion), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Danny Ings (Burnley).