FA drop last-minute call for Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson

Hodgson's hopes of bringing in full-back for Poland qualifier dashed by lack of international clearance

Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson (GETTY IMAGES)

The Football Association had to abandon a last-minute call-up for Arsenal full-back Carl Jenkinson yesterday for tomorrow's World Cup qualifier in Poland when they realised the former Finland Under-21 needed three weeks' international clearance from Fifa.

Hodgson was about to bring Jenkinson into the squad for the flight to Warsaw today but was told he was not yet eligible. His mother, Hayde, is Finnish but Hodgson will announce today that he has committed his international future to England.

Jenkinson has impressed during a run in the Arsenal first team at right-back this season and trained with the England squad yesterday at the club's London Colney facilities.

For the vital game with Poland tomorrow Hodgson is preparing to make up to six changes from the team that beat San Marino 5-0 on Friday. Having praised his less experienced players in the win at Wembley, the England manager is ready to turn to the established members of the squad for the far tougher test in Warsaw.

In defence as many as three changes are possible, with Kyle Walker, Gary Cahill and Leighton Baines potentially giving way to Glen Johnson, who was suspended for Friday, Joleon Lescott and Ashley Cole. In midfield, either Michael Carrick or Tom Cleverley will have to make room for the captain Steven Gerrard, also suspended for Friday's qualifier.

Theo Walcott, a starter against San Marino, has returned to Arsenal for treatment on the bruised lung that he sustained within the first eight minutes of Friday's game and his place will probably be taken by James Milner.

Danny Welbeck, scorer of two of the goals against San Marino, could well hold on to his place in attack but he faces competition from Jermain Defoe, who started the first two qualifiers, against Moldova and Ukraine. Lescott, Johnson and Defoe were all rested by Hodgson on Friday because they are each one booking away from a one-game suspension.

The England squad will train at the National Stadium in Warsaw tonight. Hodgson is still without Frank Lampard and Ryan Bertrand, the latter a late call-up, as a result of injury and illness respectively. Lampard has not recovered from the calf injury that caused him to miss the qualifier against San Marino and Bertrand has been struck down with a viral infection.