Sweden Vs England: Roy Hodgson Says Wilfried Zaha Must Commit To England

'There Is No Choice To Be Made'

Roy Hodgson has warned Wilfried Zaha there should be "no choice to be made" now he has been called up to the England squad for Wednesday night's friendly with Sweden, amid reports he could still pledge his international allegiance to the Ivory Coast.

Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has attempted to persuade Crystal Palace winger Zaha to switch to the country of his birth. Should Zaha win his first cap in Stockholm, he will still be eligible to play for the African nation because he will have played in an "uncompetitive fixture" for the Three Lions.

Zaha trains in Stockholm on Tuesday night

England coach Hodgson however is adamant the 20-year-old's decision to accept his ascension to the full England team should have clarified his international future.

"It is very simple. England, for me, is very important. To be asked to play for England is a major honour and a major feather in people's caps," Hodgson said.

"I am not interested in people who are deciding whether England is where they want to be."

Hodgson is convinced Zaha should stick with England

Zaha has already played for England at Under-21 and Under-19 level and could also play at next summer's European Championship in Israel with the former squad.

"When people are called up I expect them to come running, get on a bicycle and cycle to the training session if they have to," Hodgson stressed.

"There is all this nonsense about players receiving phone calls and being enticed away. If they are going to be enticed away, they are not the right player for us."

Hodgson admitted he "wouldn't stand in anyone's way if England didn't mean that much to them" but added he expected players whose football education had been spent in England to play for the national team.

Zaha's scenario is similar to that of the Arsenal right-back Carl Jenkinson. The Football Assocaition are expected to gain FIFA clearance in order for the Harlow-born defender to feature tonight after he had previously represented Finland at Under-21 level.

Jenkinson has impressed with Arsenal this season

Liverpool's exciting attacker Raheem Sterling, who will start tonight versus Sweden, is also eligible for Jamaica.

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