England manager Roy Hodgson expected to name Harry Kane in his squad for Lithuania qualifier

Harry Kane: Set for first England call-up

England manager Roy Hodgson is expected to name Tottenham striker Harry Kane when he announces his squad for this month's European qualifier against Lithuania.

The 21-year-old has netted 16 Premier League goals this season - more than any other English striker - and seems set for his first international call-up on Thursday ahead of the clash with Group E minnows Lithuania at Wembley on March 27.

The squad is coming up. I am just concentrating on things (at United) but if selected then of course I will be delighted. It is always an honour to pull on an England shirt and getting back in the squad would obviously be nice.

Ashley Young

Hodgson, whose side also travel to Turin to take on Italy in a friendly on March 31, had words of praise for Kane last month. He said: "Is he worth a place in the squad now? Of course he is.

"I think he's got the qualities that you're looking for in a centre forward. If you can be a star at a top team like Tottenham at the age of 21 then you're doing pretty well."

Other uncapped forwards hoping for places are QPR's Charlie Austin and Burnley's Danny Ings, both of whom have found the net on a regular basis in teams struggling to avoid relegation.

With Hodgson likely to name a squad of 30, Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge is set to return following the thigh injury that has kept him out of five of the six games England have played since the World Cup - all of which they have won.

'Honour'

Another hoping for a recall is Manchester United winger Ashley Young, who has shown signs of improvement with Louis van Gaal's side gradually finding a formation to suit their personnel.

The 29-year-old Young, who has 30 caps but last played for England in September 2013, said: "I will never shut the door on England until I am too old.

"The squad is coming up. I am just concentrating on things (at United) but if selected then of course I will be delighted. It is always an honour to pull on an England shirt and getting back in the squad would obviously be nice."

There are also dilemmas for Hodgson in midfield with diligent Spurs anchorman Ryan Mason touted for a debut, while his team-mate Danny Rose has been hailed by manager Mauricio Pochettino as "the best English left-back this season" while Luke Shaw continues his struggle to make an impact at Old Trafford.

Is he worth a place in the squad now? Of course he is.

Roy Hodgson on Harry Kane

Another Spurs defender, right-back Kyle Walker, is hoping for a first call-up since this time last year, while Aston Villa's Fabian Delph appears likely to make the squad having proved his fitness in the wake of shoulder surgery.

West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster - regular deputy to Joe Hart - is unavailable because of a knee injury and that could result in a call-up for QPR's Robert Green after three years in the international wilderness.

Watch Roy Hodgson's news conference on Sky Sports News HQ at 12.30pm and tune in to The Morning View now for lively debate on who should be included.