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Ox, Wilshere and Jones will not play for U21s

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has established himself in the England senior side © PA Photos

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Roy Hodgson has said that Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Phil Jones will not be included in the England Under-21 squad for this summer's European Championship in Israel.

The two Arsenal midfielders and the Manchester United defender are all eligible to play for Stuart Pearce's side but England boss Hodgson believes that, as they are established members of his senior squad, they should not drop down to play for the Under-21s.

Jack Butland, Jordan Henderson, Danny Welbeck, Steven Caulker and Kyle Walker are among the other players to have received call-ups for the senior squad but who are young enough to feature for Pearce's team in June.

However Hodgson, speaking at the European Soccerex forum in Manchester, said he has told former England left-back Pearce that some of the young stars will not be at his disposal.

Hodgson explained: "If a player has played regularly and consistently for the national team, he doesn't go back and play for the Under-21s.

"Someone like Jack Wilshere, Phil Jones, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have been bona fide members of my squad from the day I take the job. There has been no problem in that respect and Stuart accepts that."

The full England team face the Republic of Ireland and Brazil in friendlies in May and June.

Hodgson said he hopes clubs will make players available for the Under-20 World Cup in Turkey after England sent a severely depleted team to the 2011 tournament because of withdrawals.

He added: "I can't understand why so many players could be denied the chance to play for their national team. What could be so important for their clubs?"

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