ROY Hodgson has praised ex-Saint Calum Chambers after calling him up for his senior England squad.

The teenager, 19, has impressed since joining Arsenal for £16million from Saints, with the versatile defender included in the squad thanks in no small part to injuries.

“I have been very impressed with his start with Arsenal, but he first impressed me at Southampton playing at right-back," he said.

“I thought he did exceptionally well there during quite a long period of the season, before he eventually lost his place to Clyne.

“He played a good couple of months at right-back and I thought ‘this player looks very, very interesting’.

“Of course Arsene (Wenger) must have been following him even more closely to buy him and he's had a magnificent start with Arsenal.

“I had a chat with Arsene last night and just checked with him that I am not pushing him too quickly or maybe asking from him that he wasn't capable of at such a young age.

“Arsene assured me ‘no, he is ready to take on challenge you want to give him’.

“I am really delighted because I wanted to select him.

“It doesn’t mean he jumps over the Under-21s, which is not an ideal situation.

But will 10 injuries to contend with, especially with six in the defensive part of the field, I didn't have that luxury to give him a nice easy start in the Under-21s.”