Heaton, Austin and Vardy handed first England call-ups

Thursday 21 May 2015
Tom Heaton, Charlie Austin and Jamie Vardy get first England calls

Charlie Austin, Jamie Vardy and Tom Heaton are the three new names in Roy Hodgson's latest England squad.

The Three Lions boss has selected a 24-man squad for two games next month – a friendly against Republic of Ireland in Dublin on 7 June and a Euro 2016 Qualifier against Slovenia in Ljubljana on 14 June.

England Double-Header

International Match
Republic of Ireland v England
1pm Sunday 7 June 2015
Aviva Stadium, Dublin

UEFA Euro 2016 Qualifying
Slovenia v England
6pm (local) Sunday 14 June 2015
Stadion Sozice, Ljubljana

Burnley stopper Heaton, and strikers Austin from Queens Park Rangers and Leicester City's Vardy earn their first call-ups at senior level.

Heaton, 29, has previous international experience for England having featured throughout the youth ranks from Under-16s to Under-21s.

Former Burnley and Swindon hitman Austin, 25, has been called up after scoring 17 goals for the Hoops this season, as will 28-year-old Vardy, who helped the Foxes escape relegation this season.

The trio come into a squad that has won seven and drawn one of their eight internationals this season.

Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck celebrate

Danny Welbeck and Wayne Rooney celebrate against Slovenia in November

The match in Dublin is the return fixture after the 1-1 draw at Wembley that formed part of The FA’s 150th anniversary celebrations in 2013.

It will be the 16th meeting of the two teams and England’s five other visits to Dublin have produced two England wins, in 1946 and 1964.

Hodgson's men beat Slovenia 3-1 in a Euro Qualifier before a 82,000 crowd at Wembley last November. The June clash in Ljubljana, with England aiming to keep their 100% record in qualification, is only the fourth meeting of the teams.

Slovenia currently lie second in Qualifying Group E, six points behind England, having won three and lost two of their five matches. They have won both of their home fixtures without conceding.

Goalkeepers
Robert Green (Queens Park Rangers), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Tom Heaton (Burnley)

Defenders
Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Manchester United)

Midfielders
Ross Barkley (Everton), Fabian Delph (Aston Villa), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Ryan Mason (Tottenham Hotspur), James Milner (Manchester City), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)

Forwards
Charlie Austin (Queens Park Rangers), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal)

Following England's two games in June, they then return to action in September with an away game in San Marino followed by their first home game of the new season against Switzerland.

Tickets for the Euro Qualifier against the Swiss on Tuesday 8 September are now available to order online from www.TheFA.com/tickets. For further ticket details, click here.

By Jamie Bradbury FA Editor