Alan Pardew backs Southampton's Adam Lallana for England World Cup call

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew believes that Southampton captain Adam Lallana deserves a call-up to the England squad for next summer's World Cup.

The 25-year-old impressed Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson during international friendlies against Chile and Germany last month, prompting suggestions that he could be on the plane to Brazil next year.

"He's a different sort of player to the other English boys they've got," the Daily Echo quotes Pardew as saying.

"He made a little difference when he came on for sure. He's definitely got a chance of going to the World Cup."

Lallana worked under Pardew during the 52-year-old's managerial stint at St Mary's Stadium.