England manager Roy Hodgson says Michael Dawson deserves his call-up to the national team following some solid performances for Tottenham.
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Hodgson included the Spurs defender in his 26-man squad for next week's World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro.
Dawson made his debut for the Three Lions against Hungary in August 2010, but has been limited to just four appearances since then due to numerous injury setbacks.
However, Hodgson believes the 29-year-old is worthy of his call-up and admits Dawson's inability to keep fit has made it difficult for him to pick the player.
"Michael is in the squad on this occasion in the same way as Rio is in the squad on this occasion, because I think their performances merit them being there," the 65-year-old told Sky Sports.
"Michael hasn't really been a part of my thinking in the past because, to be frank, he hasn't been fit enough to play.
"If we go back to the time of the Euros last summer and the autumn, he wasn't even a potential candidate for the squad because of that reason.
"But he has been fit for the last couple of months and now he is able to play, I have decided to call him up.
"I have always thought Michael was a good player. I don't know if he has developed. You would have to ask his club coaches if they think they have seen a development.
"But I thought he was a good player when I came across him as an opponent in the Premier League and I see him as a good player today.
"I have met him in the past and had plenty of occasions to see him play on the opposite side when he was in the Tottenham team against either Fulham or West Brom."
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