Inside Lane: Spurs left-back Danny Rose is ready to star for England

Tottenham's Danny Rose is eyeing an England debut Archant

Tottenham blogger George Lacey feels it is high time that Danny Rose makes his England debut - and he believes the left-back could claim a place in Roy Hodgson’s Euro 2016 squad.

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Last February, Danny Rose publicly stated: “I don’t see myself anywhere near the international squads.” A year later, he finds himself in the running to star for England at the European Championship in France after being named in Roy Hodgson’s group for the upcoming friendlies against Germany and Holland.

Other candidates for the highly coveted left-back spot are Ryan Bertrand – who joins Rose in the current squad – and Luke Shaw and Kieran Gibbs, who have both missed out on selection this time because of form and injury.

When Hodgson named his squad for these two games, the decision to pick Rose rather than West Ham’s impressive Aaron Cresswell aggrieved fans of the east London club – but I think the fact Spurs are challenging for the title and have been playing European football probably justifies that call. The Spurs man has also played his part in giving his team the best defensive record in the Premier League, and there is no denying a call-up was long overdue.

Prior to his previous inclusions in the senior England squad, Rose was a regular for the Under-21s and played in four out of Great Britain’s five matches at the 2012 Olympics, but is yet to win a senior cap. It is surely time.

Luke Shaw might be a rival for a place on the plane to France, but he has not played since September and faces a race against time to prove his fitness – so can Rose jump to the front of the queue and claim the starting berth at Euro 2016?

Despite his lack of caps, I feel Rose’s opportunity has arrived right on time. He has improved greatly in the past two seasons and his form this season has been outstanding.

The 25-year-old was brilliant at Manchester City on Valentine’s Day, when Spurs won 2-1, and it was after that game that I felt we had finally found a mainstay at left-back. His competition with Ben Davies at White Hart Lane has produced improved performances from both players and they could face each other at this summer’s tournament, when England play Wales in the group stage.

It remains to be seen if Rose will feature in the next two fixtures for England, and Bertrand seems a likely starter. But if he is given a chance, I fancy the Yorkshireman to flourish for the Three Lions, just as he has done all season for Spurs – and a decent display could boost his hopes of being in the matchday squad on June 11, when England face Russia in their opening Group B clash in Marseille.

Follow me @GeorgeLacey_