EDDIE Howe has urged his top stars not to lose heart after no Cherries players were chosen for Roy Hodgson’s Three Lions squad.

Defenders Simon Francis and Charlie Daniels and midfielder Andrew Surman were all linked with an England call-up but none made the cut when the line-up for friendlies against Germany and the Netherlands was announced today.

Francis in particular was strongly linked with a call and was backed to earn his place by former Cherries and England man Darren Anderton.

Former Charlton ace Francis was believed to have caught Hodgson’s eye in the FA Cup fifth-round clash with Everton last month, with the national boss taking a second look at the 31-year-old seven days later in the Premier League stalemate at Watford.

Boss Howe feels time is on the side of Cherries’ English contingent ahead of Euro 2016, with eight Premier League games remaining to impress.

Howe said: “Regarding those players, they have got to keep performing as they have been and it’s not too late. There are still plenty of games to go to force their way in.

“I’m personally not disappointed because it means I get to keep the players training with us. For the players themselves, I think they have been excellent and I’m sure they would have been in Roy Hodgson’s mind.

“I think it’s very difficult when you are the England manager – you are not going to please everybody. He has got to make a decision.

“All they can do is keep plugging away and performing and see what happens.”