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Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino was Roy Hodgson’s guest of honour at Wembley.

Hodgson gave Pochettino a personal invitation to the friendly with France by way of a thank you for supplying a huge chunk of his England squad.

The Three Lions boss admits that he has virtually given up on some teams in the Premier League because they do not pick enough England players.

But Hodgson held up Pochettino and Tottenham as the blueprint for the way clubs can sign, develop and use English players to help the national team.

(Image: Getty)

Hodgson said: “Tottenham is a team that is interesting for me to watch because when I go there I get to see sometimes as many as five Englishmen.

“There are some teams when I go and watch them that there isn’t one Englishman in the team.

"They might be a very good team, who play nice football or whatever but they are not a lot of good to me because they don’t play Englishmen.

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“We are delighted that Tottenham have gone down this route and Pochettino in particular of giving players he thinks have quality a chance.

“He has shown his faith in them and it is perfect for us because it means if we like them as well we can show our faith in them and that is exactly how it has been.”

In pictures — England 2-0 France:

Hodgson ended up with five players in his squad for the last two friendlies with Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Kyle Walker, Eric Dier and a late call-up for Ryan Mason.

He says he is committed to using young talent and believes the clubs will reap the benefits because they return as better and more confident players.

(Image: Reuters) (Image: Michael Regan/Getty)

“We have been showing there are young English players out there for the last two and a half years and if you give them a chance… Sterling, Barkley, Luke Shaw, Jack Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain,” said Hodgson.

“It is not as if Eric Dier has come on the scene and Dele Alli has come on the scene and everything has changed.

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"Harry Kane was always in our plans even before he went with U21s.

“I have been saying all along that these players are there and I have said that in time I think they will blossom into very good players when they get a bit more experience.

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“The beauty of Tottenham is that these players are getting experience because they are playing week after week.”