Roy Hodgson's England challenge for Everton ace Ross Barkley

Roy Hodgson believes Ross Barkley is crucial for England

ROY HODGSON has challenged Ross Barkley to do an Italian Job for England

 

He wants Everton's whiz kid midfielder to play like Italy's legendary Roberto Baggio and Francesco Totti, starting with the Euro championship dead rubbers against Estonia and Lithuania next week.

The England boss, who coached Baggio when he was manager of Inter Milan, says the goals Roberto and Totti scored from midfield were winners for Italy.

 

And he reckons that if Barkley can do the same for England they could prove just as crucial.

Hodgson said: "If you want to be the midfielder who plays behind one forward then you have to score goals.

 

"If I was a player in that position  I would be looking at Baggio, in particular, and Totti, who both scored an awful lot of goals.

"The way things are going I don't know if you can have the luxury of someone playing there unless he's going to be chipping in with a few goals."

Hodgson revealed that he has spoken to Barkley about the importance of him scoring more from midfield.

"I'm not putting a number on it, I'm just saying that goals are important and he's more than aware of it and I think he will score goals," said the manager.

"I don't know how many goals Roberto and Totti were scoring at the age of 19, 20, but for me that would be my template.

 

"But we've been happy with what we've seen from Ross in training, and happy in particular with his potential. It's great to see that he's starting to really realise that potential more and more.

"He seems to have made a place in the Everton starting line up his own and I know Roberto (Martinez) is pleased with him.

"We always liked him, so it's up to him. There is competition for places, but we think he's good enough to play for England and he'll get his chances."

Hodgson threw down the gauntlet at the same time as he issued a warning that none of his players - including the likes of Wayne Rooney and Joe Hart - is guaranteed a place in the England side.

He said: "Wayne knows he's good and Joe knows he's good. But what if they start playing terribly and Joe loses his place at Manchester City and doesn't play a game?

"What if Wayne gets dropped by Manchester United and doesn't play any serious football to June?

"If the question is are Wayne and Joe very likely to be in France then it's yes they are very likely. 

"But we are working to build a squad of players where no-one is safe, no-one can can take their place for granted and we've got that real competition that we think will drive everybody forward."

In the meantime the England boss threw a lifeline to Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson after he was ruled out for six months with cruciate ligament damage.

Hodgson added: "Callum Wilson was on the radar after playing for the U21s and his excellent start to the season.

"We are very disappointed for him, but he's one we like and we think has a lot of abilities and qualities and one we certainly would have continued to follow quite closely.

"Unfortunately for him we will now have to wait a few months due to the accident."