Ryan Shawcross: 'It's harder for me to get picked for England'

Stoke City defender Ryan Shawcross thinks that it is harder for him to get picked for England because of the team he plays for.

The 25-year-old made his debut for the Three Lions last year in their friendly game with Sweden in November when Roy Hodgson's side lost 4-2.

Shawcross told The Sentinel: "I want to get back in the squad and the only way I can do that is by performing well for Stoke and hopefully Stoke playing well too.

"Stoke isn't the most fashionable club so it is harder to get in the England squad, but it has shown in the past that if I am playing well I will get picked. It is ultimately up to me to play well."

Shawcross is part of the Stoke defence, which is the joint fifth best in the Premier League conceding just 33 goals this season in 28 games.