London: Uncapped Southampton right-back Nathaniel Clyne and Swansea City midfielder Jonjo Shelvey were on Thursday called up for England’s 2016 European Championship qualifiers against San Marino and Estonia.

Clyne, who scored a stunning goal against Arsenal in the League Cup recently, has never previously been called up, while Shelvey has made one previous appearance, coincidentally against San Marino, in October 2012.

“He’s impressed us for quite a while,” England manager Roy Hodgson said of 23-year-old Clyne. “Even before the World Cup, he was a name we were constantly considering, but of course there were other people we considered to be in front of him.

“Now we’ve lost Glen Johnson and Kyle Walker [to injury] — John Stones played there the other day — and we were looking for someone else who we thought could be a very interesting candidate for the right-back post.

“This time he was not only considered, but asked to come.”

On Shelvey, who Hodgson previously coached at Liverpool, the manager said: “The way we’re looking to play could suit him. He’s had an excellent start to the season with Swansea and he’s there on merit, because of his form and because of his qualities.”

Arsenal left-back Kieran Gibbs returned to the squad, but Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge missed out due to a thigh injury.

In Sturridge’s absence, Hodgson named only three strikers in Rickie Lambert, Danny Welbeck and captain Wayne Rooney.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers revealed on Wednesday that he had asked for Sturridge not to be selected as he pursues his recovery from injury, and Hodgson said it was an amicable decision to leave him out.

“There was no question of manoeuvring, either on Liverpool’s part or our part. We were both hoping he’d recover in time, but he hasn’t,” he said.

“It’s a great blow for us, a blow for Liverpool and a blow for the player, who was anxious to be a part of these two games. But there’s not a problem or a conflict there at all.

“He’s not played for Liverpool at all since picking up the injury with us. As I understand it, he’s still got some work to do before he’s fully fit. There was no question of him being selected.”

Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw and Arsenal defender Calum Chambers were included in England’s Under-21 squad for their forthcoming 2015 European Championship play-off against Croatia.

Having won 2-0 away to Switzerland in their opening Group E game last month, England host minnows San Marino at Wembley Stadium next Thursday before tackling Estonia in Tallinn the following Sunday.