Luke Shaw deserves to receive a first ever senior call-up for England tomorrow.

That is the view of one of the defender’s teammates at Saints.

Shaw is in contention for a place in the squad for next Wednesday’s friendly, against Denmark, at Wembley.

England manager Roy Hodgson has already indicated that the 18-year-old left-back could be selected this time, a decision that would put him in the frame for the World Cup.

Saints centre-half Dejan Lovren has played alongside Shaw for most of the season, and he believes the teenager’s performances warrant a place in the squad for next week’s match.

“Yes, I think, because the last couple of games he was amazing,” said Lovren.

“He needs to work really, really hard and, for me, he’s already one of the best left-backs here in the Premier League.

“He’s still young, really young, and I think he deserves the chance to play.”

Shaw is one of four Saints players with a realistic chance of being included in the squad tomorrow, along with Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Jay Rodriguez, with the latter three having already made their debuts for the national team this season.

Lovren is hoping to see all of them selected for what will be the final friendly before Hodgson names his provisional 30-man World Cup squad.

“I hope to see like the last time, the players who play for England, again,” he said.

Lovren himself will be away on international duty next week, having been selected by Croatia for their friendly against Switzerland, in St Gallen.

The 24-year-old is a mainstay of his national squad, and, barring injury, should be gracing the World Cup – where Croatia will take on hosts Brazil in the tournament’s curtain-raiser.

However, he says the focus remains very much on Saints, rather than the summer.

“We have a lot of time,” he said. “I hope I am not injured and I need to just play good football for my club and, after, it will be easier to play in the World Cup.”