Arsenal's Carl Jenkinson to join up with England squad

Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson will join up with the England squad for next week's friendly with Sweden, subject to FIFA clearance.

The 20-year-old has represented Finland at Under-21 level and the Football Association are waiting on the relevant paperwork needed to transfer his international allegiance.

England boss Roy Hodgson said: "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."