England manager Roy Hodgson has revealed that he thought long and hard over handing Andros Townsend his debut for the Three Lions on Friday.

The 22-year-old winger started against Montenegro in their World Cup Group H qualifier and helped his side to a 4-1 victory with a goal.

"We agonised over selecting Andros Townsend," The Guardian quotes Hodgson as saying. "We argued back and forth and had a lot of time to think about it.

"To leave people like Jack Wilshere and James Milner out, with all the good work he's put in for us in this group and the attacking flair they bring, was not easy.

"It's never easy to leave one experienced player, or one skilful player, out of the side. Or Michael Carrick, too."

England are currently at the top of their group with 19 points from nine matches.