Jenkinson awaiting FIFA clearance

England manager Roy Hodgson has revealed Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson will be added to his squad if he receives clearance from FIFA.

Hodgson announced a 23-man list on Thursday for next week’s friendly international with Sweden in Stockholm, and is eager to add the in-form Gunners full-back to it.

But because Jenkinson has represented Finland at under-21 level, football’s global governing body, FIFA, have to approve him representing the England senior side.

Jenkinson made the commitment to play for England last month and was included in a training squad before games against Poland and San Marino.

Hodgson told the FA’s official website: “The reason I didn’t include Carl from the start is because we haven’t, at this moment in time, got clearance from FIFA but we do believe that they are going to grant that clearance within a day or two.

“So by next Wednesday, he will be clear to play. He wants to play for England and has made that clear so we applied for permission to FIFA, as one is allowed to do, immediately after he left us and before we set off for Poland.

“That was a month ago, but I didn’t want to put his name down in a squad until such time as I’ve got FIFA clearance saying he’s available to play for us in my hand.

“If the clearance comes through, we will put him in the squad. He was with us for training just before we left for Poland and I made it clear to him then that if he did want to play for England, I would include him in this squad and I intend to keep that promise.”