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Tottenham ace Alli is expected to make his full debut in tomorrow's final Euro 2016 qualifier in Lithuania to complete a meteoric rise to the top.

But Hodgson plans to send the 19-year-old - who came on as a sub against Estonia on Friday - back to the under-21s set-up and has hit back at critics who reckon he has started handing out caps like confetti.

Keeper Jack Butland will be the 31st different player Hodgson has used during this campaign when he makes his competitive debut in Vilnius.

This figure could rise to 33 if Hodgson picks Spurs' Kyle Walker and Liverpool striker Danny Ings, while in contrast Wales have used just 24 in securing their own place at the finals in France next summer.

Some pundits claim Hodgson's decision to call-up Alli after just seven games for Spurs suggests the England boss is making the highest honour in the game look cheap.

Hodgson admits Alli is in the squad because of a raft of injuries to fellow midfielders like Jack Wilshere, Michael Carrick, Fabian Delph and Jordan Henderson.

He insists the deserves to be in the set-up, but has also warned him he still has a long way to go before he makes the grade.

Hodgson said: "With Dele Alli you have to bear in mind the number of injuries we've had.

"When I thought of the group in June and what is it going to look like in October, there would have been six or seven who would have been with us.

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"People like Dele come in because an opportunity opened up for them with others moved aside, but it's not a situation where, the moment you kick the ball correctly from A to B, you'll get in the England team.

"It's not like that at all. But if you do come in and make an impact as a young player, and then there are a lot of injuries in the first-team, there will be a chance.

"I said to him I'm pleased to have him here, he's here on merit and he can handle the pressures.

"But I also said to him that there's a good chance you'll be with the under-21s next time. Don't think you're a senior player."