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TOM CLEVERLEY believes signing for Everton will significantly boost his chances with England.

The 25-year-old earned a recall to the national side this summer as a replacement for the injured Ryan Mason as Roy Hodgson’s side prepared to face Republic of Ireland.

Cleverley didn’t feature in the friendly in Dublin but was still thrilled to be back in the Three Lions set-up having won the last of his 13 caps in November 2013.

Everton’s new signing lost his place in the England squad during a “tough” spell at Manchester United which saw him become the whipping boy for a desperately poor season under David Moyes.

A section of the England fan base signed a petition calling for Hodgson to omit Cleverley from his final squad for the World Cup in Brazil last summer but after earning a recall on the back of an excellent end to the season on loan at Aston Villa, Cleverley believes he can keep his place in the Three Lions side.

“Looking at our squad, we have some good, young internationals,” Cleverley said.

“And that was another reason why I joined Everton because if I can get some good form here then I have got a shout of getting back into the England squad.

“There are a lot of positives in joining this squad and getting back in the England squad is definitely one of them.”

On his relationship with Hodgson, Cleverley added: “I’ve got a really good relationship with him and all the coaching staff there.

“Even though I didn’t get a cap (in June) it was good to be back in the squad and see the new faces I’d not played with before. I really felt at home there again. Hopefully I can keep my place there.”

Louis Van Gaal replaced Moyes at Old Trafford last summer and quickly made it clear to Cleverley that he did not figure in his plans.

“He’s very honest and that’s all you ask from your manager as a footballer and he told me straight how it was going to be,” he said.

“Fair play for that and good luck to them.

“I felt it was the right time for me to move. He said he was signing a midfielder or two and so my chances would be limited.

“I haven’t got a bad word to say about him.”

Cleverley now only wants to look forward and is eyeing a return to Europe with the Blues.

“As a club, we have got to try and improve on last season and reach the heights of the previous season when they finished fifth,” he said.

“And it would be good to get on a cup run.”

Asked how long after the end of the season it took for him to choose Everton, Cleverley said: “It was about a week’s time.

“I had a great relationship with Villa in the last six months and so it was hard. But the reasons I spoke about before, added up to Everton and I’m really excited about a new page with them.”

And, he hopes, England too.