Danny Drinkwater is fully deserving of his call-up into Englands squad by Roy Hodgson, according to former captain Terry Butcher. The 26-year-old is set to earn his first senior international cap during the Euro 2016 warm-up games against Germany and the Netherlands at the end of this month.His selection came at the expense of veteran Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick but Butcher believes that was the right call and feels Drinkwater has a lot to offer Englands midfield. Drinkwater in England squad Danny Drinkwater named in England squad for March friendlies From a midfield position he has made more tackles than anyone else in the Premier League so he is there on merit, Butcher said, speaking on Sky Sports Today.He has been at the fulcrum of a lot of the Leicester attacks and also helps to stop teams from playing. He is very strong and a good long passer of the ball as well.If you look at other players in that midfield area, he is head and shoulders above them in terms of his passing and tackling in particular and what he can give a team. Leighton Baines was left out of Englands squad We will wait and see if he can progress to the next level. It is a massive leap from the Premier League up to international level but he has earned the right to be there.In addition to Carrick, another high-profile name omitted from Hodgsons squad was Everton left back Leighton Baines, with Southamptons Ryan Bertrand and Tottenhams Danny Rose selected instead.Baines has been hampered by an ankle injury all season and Butcher believes that is the reason for his omission but feels Hodgson will be keen to have him in the squad for the Euros this summer. Roy Hodgson says the door is open for others to make Englands squad for Euro 2016 Butcher said: There is obviously a reason [Baines] is not in the squad with his injuries. He has been in the squad for a good number of years now.He has had his injury problems this season and is obviously not quite right but that doesnt rule him out for the Euros.Id like to think Roy has spoken to Roberto [Martinez] and they have come to some sort of agreement. Ryan Bertrand of Southampton is expected to start at left back for England Although Butcher expects Baines to play his way back into Hodgsons good graces, he feels Bertrand is the man who will be starting for England in their opening Euro 2016 game against Russia in Marseille on June 11.I think Bertrand will be the starting left-back, Butcher said. He is in pole position because he has got the jersey. But Danny Rose is in there on merit as well so that is another success story. Also See: Drinkwater in England squad Thommos 23-man squad Pochettino: No Kane concerns Neville to help Hodgson Custom Shirts Cheap . -- The taxing preseason, which included two games in China, is finally over. Custom Shirts China . The 36-year-old Colts receiver is going back to the playoffs as a division champion. http://www.shirtscustom.us/ . The young man, never lacking confidence, thought he could be really good. Cheap Custom Shirts . With Washington teammate Nene drawing double-teams coming off his big game against the Lakers, Gortat scored 25 points on 11-of-12 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Wizards to a 100-92 win in overtime over Milwaukee on Wednesday night. Custom Shirts Outlet . - Free agent defensive end Will Smith has signed with the New England Patriots.The Winnipeg Jets and San Jose Sharks conclude a three-game regular season series with a 9:30ct face off tonight at SAP Center. The first two games have been split. Winnipeg were 5-4 winners on home ice, while the Sharks earned a 1-0 win here in January. The Jets (32-32-9) have 73 points and trail Phoenix by nine points for a Western Conference Wild Card playoff spot. Al Montoya will start his sixth straight game in goal. Jets Projected Lines: Ladd-Little-FrolikByfuglien-Jokinen-WheelerKane-ODell-HalischukTangradi-Slater-Peluso Enstrom-EllerbyStuart-TroubaPardy-Postma Head coach Paul Maurice will not play forward Devin Setoguchi.dddddddddddd He is a "coaches decision" to sit in the stands, according to Maurice. The Sharks (47-18-9) have 103 points and lead the Pacific Division by two points over Anaheim. Antti Niemi will start in goal. Sharks Projected Lines: Pavelski-Thornton-BurnsKennedy-Marleau-NietoHavlat-Sheppard-WingelsBrown-Desjardins-Hamilton Irwin-Boyle Vlasic-DemersStuart-Braun Tonight is NHL game #1,200 for Joe Thornton. He is the 100th NHL player to reach that milestone. San Jose has an 11-1-2-2 all-time record against the Atlanta / Winnipeg franchise. ' ' '