England call for FGR quartet

The quartet have been named in the England ‘C’ squad for the International Challenge Trophy against Italy on Tuesday, February 28.

“I am delighted for them,” said Hockaday.

“Forest Green are raising the bar and setting records. We will boast the youngest and highest representation in the squad.

“James Rowe, James Norwood and Chris Stokes were due to be involved in the postponed game against India, so this is a massive credit to the whole club and even to the players not involved.”

Taylor has been placed on standby for the clash at Fleetwood Town’s Highbury Stadium and Forbes has won selection for the England matchday squad after twice being named before as a shadow member of the England ‘C’ team, but is currently recovering from a hamstring niggle picked up against Wrexham.

"I’ve been on standby for the last two call–ups, but this is is the first time I’ve been selected to play," Forbes said.

“But to honest though I haven’t really thought too much about it, because I’m just concentrating on getting fit to play for Forest Green.

“Yes it’s nice to be selected but I don’t need any more motivation to get fit, then wanting to back and play every week for Forest Green.”

Oshodi has form in a Three Lions shirt, having played for England under 16 in 2007/08 and under 17 in 2008/09 as a scholar at Watford, while Turley made his England ‘C’ debut earlier this season in the sides 3-1 friendly loss to Gibraltar.

Manager Paul Fairclough has recognised a Forest Green defensive pairing that has contributed to the side having the fourth best defensive record in the Blue Square Premier and with many players capped at non-league level going on to play at a higher level, this provides the three Rovers trio with a chance to showcase their wares.

The International Challenge Trophy fixture against Italy will be played at Fleetwood Town’s Highbury Stadium in Lancashire and manager Paul Fairclough’s England ‘C’ have finished runners-up at the last two tournaments in 2009 and 2011. On both occasions, England were beaten 1-0 with Belgium proving victorious in 2009 and Portugal edging out the Three Lions in Northampton last year.

England won the tournament for the seventh time in May 2008, which is played against various under 23 and non-league national teams.

u FOREST Green will be hoping for a rise in temperature when high-flying Luton Town visit the New Lawn on Saturday, 3pm.

Rovers were frozen out at AFC Telford on Saturday and suffered the same fate last night at Kettering Town.

The squad trained at Cirencester Indoor Arena this week and Hockaday is urging his side to hit the ground running.

“We're in a position now where we know we're safe and if we are going to do anything in the remainder of the season, we have to win games,” he said.

“We didn't sit back against Fleetwood and Wrexham and try and counter, we pressed them high up the pitch and we're going to go and attack at every team as we have nothing to lose now.

“We're 11 points off the play-offs and we know plenty of teams above will have to falter for us to get up there.

“But we are going to prepare to try and win every game and give it a right crack, but in the meantime we will be building off the field so we can be in a better position each season.”

Hockaday beat Tuesday’s transfer deadline to capture Aldershot Town midfielder Jamie Collins on an 18-month contract for an undisclosed fee.

The former Watford coach hailed the move as a ‘statement of intent’ that Rovers could tempt a player who was a regular performer in the Football League for the Shots to the New Lawn.

“It’s a great signing for us, he brings experience to a young squad. He brings a hardness and a winning mentality,” Hockaday said.

“We tried to sign him last season, we’ve kept our eye on him and got a sniff that something could happen and we managed to winkle him out at the 11th hour.

“He wanted to come here and it shows a statement of intent from the club and it shows that word has got about in football that this is a good place to be at.”