Pochettino backs Shaw’s England chances

Shaw was named in Roy Hodgson’s 30 man squad for the friendly against Denmark next week, and Pochettino feels that the youngster will have no problems settling in at that level alongside fellow Southampton teammates Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Jay Rodriguez.

“It’s clear that he’s a very good player and that he’s in his second season in the Premier League, and second season with the first team and that’s very important to Southampton,” said Pochettino.

“He’s getting more and more experience so the English national manager Roy Hodgson has decided that it would be a good thing for him to join up with the squad, and that’s a very good thing for him.”

Luke’s rapid rise into the senior set-up has come as a reward for his consistent displays, and his club manager says the full-back has the right attributes to succeed at the highest level.

“I think he’s taken it in a very calm and relaxed manner, as we have also taken it,” Pochettino assessed.

“We were very calm about his England call-up beside the point that he’s only 18 years-old, so he’s quite young, but he’s a player who has matured a lot in the last year, and it’s clear that he has the quality also to be in the England national team set-up so that’s a very good thing.”

Shaw will be competing with experienced duo Ashley Cole and Leighton Baines for two slots at this summer’s World Cup, and Pochettino thinks the youngster has a good chance of taking one of those spaces.

“I’m not Roy Hodgson so I’m not one to make that decision, but nonetheless I think he’s a good player and he’s one of the best I would say in that position, so I think he does have options to be going to the tournament.”

Whilst four Southampton players are involved with the senior England squad next week, there are also a number of other younger players that will feature across the age groups, and Pochettino paid tribute to the work of the Academy for bringing even more professionals through the ranks.

“When you look at the national side you also start seeing the Under-21s and the Under-19s and 17s as well, and we have 17 players that are going to be playing in these ranks of the national side,” he highlighted.

“It’s just another example of what the Academy at Southampton is producing for us and also for the, league and the national team as well.”