Tottenham youngster called up to England squad in place of injured Lallana

Tottenham midfielder Ryan Mason has been handed his debut call-up to the England senior squad in place of the injured Adam Lallana.

The Liverpool man was forced to pull out of the team after suffering a groin problem in Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Manchester United, which saw him substituted at half-time.

And the Football Association has subsequently announced 23-year-old Mason will join Spurs team-mate Harry Kane in the Three Lions side for upcoming clashes with Lithuania and Italy.

It's a surprising selection by manager Roy Hodgson as, while he has become a regular member of Tottenham’s first-team this season, Mason has never been drafted into the England Under-21s team.

Meanwhile, Fabian Delph did not meet with the rest of his international team-mates at St George's Park on Monday afternoon.

The Aston Villa midfielder is currently suffering from a stomach bug, though he is expected to join the squad ahead of Friday’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania.

Reports had also suggested Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge was struggling with a hip injury, but he joined the squad in Burton and there was no mention of the frontman in the statement the FA issued on Monday evening.

"Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Ryan Mason has been drafted into Roy Hodgson's England squad," the statement read.

"The inclusion of the 23-year-old follows the withdrawal of Liverpool's Adam Lallana through injury.

"Mason, a regular for Spurs this season, has previously represented the Three Lions at U19 and U20 level.

"Lallana wasn't the only absentee as the senior squad gathered at St. George's Park on Monday afternoon in preparation for the forthcoming fixtures against Lithuania and Italy.

"Aston Villa's Fabian Delph remained at home with a sickness bug but is expected to link up with the team later this week."