Jay Rodriguez has not stopped smiling since finding out about his unexpected England call-up.

Signed by Southampton last summer for what was a club record £6million, the 24-year-old has overcome an indifferent start to life at St Mary’s to become an integral member of Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
Rodriguez has netted in three of Saints’ last four Barclays Premier League matches, with such displays clearly catching the eye of England manager Roy Hodgson.
The former Burnley striker was today rewarded with a first call-up by the Three Lions, with Saints team-mates Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert also included in the squad for the upcoming friendlies against Chile and Germany .
“Words can’t describe how I feel,” Rodriguez told Southampton’s official YouTube channel.
“I am still obviously shocked. It is a bit surreal. It is a dream come true really and I just can’t wait.
“I came in today and didn’t really think anything of it. I was just told and couldn’t believe it.
“I couldn’t stop smiling and I have not stopped smiling all day. It’s class.
“It’s been important for me to concentrate on my football and improving as a player, and hopefully this will improve me massively.
“I’ve been focused on my club games and my performances there, so I had to keep my feet on the ground and keep working on that.
“Now I just can’t wait to get among the lads and be a part of it.”
It is not just a great day for Rodriguez, but the club as a whole.
Just three years on from plying their trade in League One, Saints sit sixth in the top flight and boast a squad full of international players.
As well as Rodriguez, captain Lallana is in line for his England debut having been called up for the first time since being an unused substitute against Ukraine last year, while talisman Lambert has again been included by Hodgson.
“It’s unbelievable for the club,” Rodriguez said. “It just shows the direction we’re going in and the ambition and vision we’ve got.
“We have so many international players now, so it’s a really good place to be and a good thing to be part of.
“It’s always nice if you know someone there, but Rickie has said before that the lads make you welcome there
“It’s something to look forward to and I’m just excited to get started.”
Rodriguez’s only international experience to date is a solitary England Under-21s cap, which came from the bench against Italy in February 2011.
Despite that and his call-up to Hodgson’s senior team, as this month’s matches are only friendlies the forward would still be eligible for Spain through his father, Kiko.
Is there, then, potential for an international tug of war?
“I am English,” Rodriguez said as a laugh punctuated his broad Lancashire accent.
“Obviously I have Spanish relatives and my dad is Spanish. It was always England, though, as that is where I was brought up, as you can tell by my accent.”

According to Foxsports

The 26-year-old centre-half is struggling once again with his nagging groin problem, meaning he could be left behind for this weekend’s trip to Seville.

Barcelona have confirmed that defender Gerard Pique could miss Saturday’s Liga clash with Betis.

The Spain international has been struggling with a groin problem this season and, while he played all 90 minutes of Wednesday’s Champions League win over AC Milan, the 26-year-old centre-half could be rested for the trip to Seville.

A statement on the club’s website read: “Pique underwent tests [on Thursday] on his groin problem.

“Developments over the next few days will determine whether he is fit enough to be considered for selection against Betis at the weekend.”

Barcelona currently lead La Liga from Atletico Madrid, having dropped just two points over the course of the opening 11 rounds of the season.

According to Goal

The former national captain knows from experience that the Three Lions will approach Brazil 2014 feeling that they are capable of going much further than expected.

Former England star David Beckham says that Roy Hodgson’s side will enter World Cup 2014 believing that they can win it.

The Three Lions have not reached the final four of a World Cup since 1990 and have won the tournament just once, in 1966, but, despite their sitting 10th in the world rankings, the former national captain expects them to be aiming high.

“I’m always optimistic about when England go into competitions because I’ve been there, I’ve felt how it is when you go into a big competition,” Beckham told Sky Sports News.

“Roy’s come in and changed the team around a lot, introducing a lot of young, talented players to the squad. When you go through a qualifying campaign, there’s always ups and downs – it’s like a rollercoaster – but, when you actually reach the competition, once you’ve qualified, everyone calms down and everyone starts looking forward to the competition that’s coming up.

“I think you always go into competitions thinking you’re going to win it.”

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder acknowledged the size of the task facing England but picked out Tottenham winger Andros Townsend as an example of why Hodgson’s men can shock the footballing world.

“It’s obviously very difficult because you come up against some of the best countries with some of the best players in the world,” Beckham added, “but we have some young players coming through like Townsend, who has come into the team, and there’s a freshness now. He is playing without any worries and that’s great to see.

“He’s a player who hasn’t always been in the starting line-up, he’s gone out on loan a few times but he’s now one who’s established in the England team.

“This is the biggest football competition in the world, with the best players in the world, but we’ll see. I hope we can go all the way.”

According to Goal

The Japan international played in both positions at the Anoeta but has reiterated that he is far more comfortable being utilised as a trequartista.

Shinji Kagawa says that he found it easier playing more centrally than on the left wing during Manchester United’s 0-0 draw with Real Sociedad on Tuesday.

The Japan international started the Champions League game out wide but moved into a No.10 role in the second half, a position which, he admits, he found far more preferable.

“I had an easier time playing as a shadow top [trequartista] than I did on the left wing,” Kagawa told reporters.

“I need to be more involved in the match and I hope I can do so in our upcoming fixtures. I want to play better, sharper and faster.”

The Premier League champions had chances to win the game, with Robin van Persie twice hitting the woodwork, but ultimately had to settle for a point.

The draw means the Red Devils still top of Group A but they remain just a point clear of Bayer Leverkusen, and Kagawa feels that his team might have done even better and secured all three points.

“I think it was a game we could have won,” he added. “If you look at the other groups, too, the number of points you earn in games like these can decide whether or not you advance.

“If we could have converted our chances, we could have won.”

Kagawa also insisted that little has changed at the club despite Sir Alex Ferguson leaving Old Trafford after almost 27 years in charge and David Moyes taking over at the helm.

“I don’t feel like there are any big differences,” he claimed. “Their instructions change from match to match, after all.”

According to Goal