Saints defender Nathaniel Clyne has received a first call-up to the England senior team, for the Euro 2016 qualifiers against San Marino and Estonia.

The 23-year-old right-back, who was a regular at under-21 level, has been selected by Roy Hodgson after a superb start to the season for his club.

He wrote on Twitter this afternoon: "I'm delighted to get the England call up it's a proud moment for me and I can't wait to get started."

Explaining the decision to select him, Hodgson said: "He's impressed us for a while. Even before the World Cup he was a name we were constantly considering, but there were others in front of him then. 

"Now we've lost Glen Johnson and Kyle Walker. John Stones played there but we're looking for someone else who would be interesting candidate for the right-back post.

"He was considered even before the last two matches."

Clyne, who is joined in the squad by his St Mary's teammate, goalkeeper Fraser Forster, has been included ahead of former Saints defender Calum Chambers, who has dropped down to the under-21 squad, along with Luke Shaw, for the crucial Euro 2015 play-off against Croatia.

Clyne will hope to win his first cap when England host San Marino, at Wembley, next Thursday, before travelling to face Estonia on the Sunday.

They will be looking to build on their strong start to the qualifying campaign, having won 2-0 away to Switzerland in their opening fixture.

Young Saints duo Matt Targett and Harrison Reed are in the England Under-20 squad for a four-team tournament in the Netherlands next week, which also includes Germany and Turkey.

ENGLAND SQUAD: 

GOALKEEPERS: Fraser Forster (Southampton), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Hart (Manchester City).

DEFENDERS: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), John Stones (Everton).

MIDFIELDERS: Fabian Delph (Aston Villa), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Jonjo Shelvey (Swansea City), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal).

FORWARDS: Rickie Lambert (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Welbeck (Arsenal).