Roy Hodgson believes this is the perfect time for Harry Kane to step up to the England team and insisted his maiden senior call-up would not preclude the Tottenham striker from playing in this summer's Under-21 European Championship.

There were not many clamouring for the 21-year-old to be in the Spurs starting line-up at the start of the season, never mind the national team.

Yet Kane's Roy of the Rovers rise continues apace and his incredible 26-goal haul at club level has brought with it deserved England recognition.

The forward is the only uncapped player in the 24-man squad for the upcoming Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania and friendly in Italy - a call-up Hodgson believes Kane more than deserves.

"I don't think he has anything to prove because to get into this squad he has proven that he has got the qualities we are looking for," the England manager said.

"He is the right type of player with the right type of qualities and we know he is the right kind of man as well because we know a little bit about his character and the type of person he is.

"The thing he has got to do is play lots and lots of games. That's what he has got to do, he has got to keep doing it.

"He has broken into the Tottenham team and kept people like Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado out of the team.

"He has been chosen in front of them because, obviously, the coach believes him to be the better man for the job at this moment in time. He has just got to keep doing that.

"When I say he has got to prove himself, you break onto the scene, everyone sees your talent, everyone appreciates it but then, unfortunately, you've only really still made one step along the way.

"You can't say you've fully arrived until you do it on a consistent basis."

Kane has shown impressive maturity since rising to prominence with Spurs and is no stranger to national team football having become a regular fixture with Gareth Southgate's Under-21s.

The Spurs striker scored six goals as the Young Lions qualified for this summer's European Championship finals in the Czech Republic - a tournament he could still feature in, despite this senior call-up.

"When it comes to Harry Kane, it was very simple this time," Hodgson said.

"He has been included in this squad, where we can get to know him and he can get to know the other first-team national players. This was the moment for him.

"It doesn't preclude him from going to play in the summer for the Under-21s, but I think it would be wrong just to say 'you're doing so well that on merit you deserve a place in the first national team, but because there is an Under-21 tournament you can go and play two friendlies for them'.

"Gareth was of exactly the same opinion and it was the same case with Saido Berahino in the last (squad). We had the same discussion."

Nobody managed more goals in qualification than Berahino's haul of 10 - form he has continued at club level with West Brom.

The striker, an unused substitute during the last meet-up, has been omitted this time around, while Under-21s team-mate Danny Ings of Burnley and free-scoring QPR striker Charlie Austin have been overlooked.

"Obviously the competition up front is pretty strong," Hodgson said.

"Apart from Harry Kane, there is Danny Welbeck, Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling. That's pretty strong competition and I am talking about what we regard as some of our most important players.

"Before I can start adding the Ings and Berahinos, there has got to be a gap somewhere. There has got to be a place for them."

Hodgson has found a place for Sturridge, Fabian Delph and Kyle Walker in these upcoming games, while Luke Shaw and Ross Barkley have been included despite the Three Lions boss admitting they have been slightly off-form for their clubs.

"Sometimes it is the moment to stick with those players," he said. "Shaw and Barkley are very good examples in this particular get-together.

"We believe in them, we believe they have got a future. We think they have done enough in their time with us to prove that quality and that potential.

"At this particular moment, both of them aren't having their best moments but rather than jettison them, we prefer to keep them on-board with us."