Roy Hodgson has offered hope to Luke Shaw and Jack Wilshere as they look to return from injuries in time to force their way into England’s Euro 2016 squad.
Shaw has been out of action since fracturing his leg last September, while Wilshere has not featured at all this season after suffering a broken fibula in the summer.
England v Netherlands
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8pm, Tuesday 29 March 2016
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By Jim Lucas
Speaking at a UEFA workshop in Paris on Thursday, Hodgson confirmed he would be without the pair for this month’s friendlies against Germany and the Netherlands but did not rule out the chance of the pair returning in time for the summer.
"In terms of the March fixtures, we’re going to be missing one or two players," said the England manager.
"We’re still monitoring Luke Shaw – I know he’s making good progress – and we’re monitoring Jack Wilshere, who’s making very good progress, but I have to accept that, for these games in March, we won’t have those players.
"Hopefully by May, when I really have to make a decision, they’ll be available for selection."
Wayne Rooney and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will also miss this month’s friendlies after both suffering recent knee injuries.
Of Rooney, Hodgson said: "Our doctor speaks to their [Manchester United’s] club doctor, and we were told that it was probably going to take six weeks – at the very, very worst or could take a week or two more, which would take him into the first week of April.
"I believe Alex has had almost exactly the same injury, although his came a couple of weeks later."
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