John Ruddy will be allowed to miss Belgium friendly for wedding

Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy will be allowed to miss England's second Euro 2012 warm-up international against Belgium - so he can get married.

Ruddy has been named as one of three goalkeepers - along with Manchester City's Joe Hart and West Ham's Robert Green - in Roy Hodgson's 23-man squad for the tournament in Poland and Ukraine.

The 25-year-old will link up with the England squad for their preparation matches away against Norway on May 26 and Belgium on June 2 at Wembley.

But the Football Association have given Ruddy special dispensation to miss the Belgium game so he can marry his partner, Laura.

"I'm absolutely delighted and so grateful to the Football Association for agreeing to let me go ahead and get married," Ruddy told canaries.co.uk.

"It would have been a nightmare after one and a half years of planning to have to postpone the wedding so it's a major relief that we can still go ahead."

Ruddy was voted the Norwich players' player of the season after an impressive Barclays Premier League campaign.

He is looking forward to linking up with England and training alongside Hart and Green.

"It's a real honour for me and hopefully it's an indication as to how far I have developed as a player with Norwich City and how far we've developed as a squad at Norwich," Ruddy said.

"I think this call-up is a testament to the performance of all the lads at the club who have been brilliant to work with and also to Paul Lambert, who gave me the opportunity to come to Norwich and continue my development as a player.

"Playing for my country has been a dream of mine, of course it has.

"I think as a professional you always want to progress as high as you can within the game and it's fantastic to get the chance to work with the England staff and players.

"I'm under no illusions as to the quality of Joe Hart and Rob Green and that I will be number three 'keeper. But I'm really looking forward to training with them and getting down to some hard work."

PA