BURNLEY defender Michael Keane has not given up hope of breaking into the England squad, even as he watches the Three Lions in Euro 2016 action on TV this summer.

The 23-year-old was a crucial part of the Clarets side which lifted the Championship title last season, forming a rock-solid centre-back partnership with Ben Mee when the full-back switched into the centre midway through the season.

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With the increased spotlight of playing in the Premier League every week, plus his recent knack of scoring important goals, former Manchester United youngster Keane is hoping to catch the eye of Hodgson when he turns his attention back to World Cup qualifying following the tournament in France.

He said: “For me at the moment it is about trying to do well for Burnley in the Premier League.

“I think once you are there then you can start trying to earn a call into the England squad.”

The Three Lions have a stark lack of quality in the backline, following the loss of experienced stars such as John Terry and Rio Ferdinand over recent years.

Hodgson has taken only three specialist centre-halves to France; former Bolton man Gary Cahill, Manchester United’s Chris Smalling and Everton 22-year-old John Stones.

He also has Tottenham midfielder Eric Dier, who can drop into a deeper role if required.

That could leave the door open for Keane, who has 16 caps at Under-21 level, to stake a serious claim.

And the fact that he netted five goals last season, including crucial equalisers against Brighton and Middlesbrough in April, shows there is more to his game than just defending.

Keane knows a few other stars of England’s squad very well, having played with strikers Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy, as well midfielder Danny Drinkwater while on loan at Leicester City three years ago.

Kane, who was also on loan at King Power Stadium, has since made a sensational impact for Spurs and is certain to start in England’s opening Group B encounter against Russia on Saturday.

Vardy and Drinkwater won the Premier League title with the Foxes last season, and while Drinkwater didn’t make the final 23-man squad, Keane says their rise is also serving as an inspiration to him.

He said: “You look at Leicester and you would never have imagined what would have happened to them.

“I played with Danny and Jamie, and also Harry Kane, at Leicester. Most of them were on the bench at the time!

“You would never have imagined what has happened to them happening but you could see then that they all worked really hard in training and all wanted to get better.

“It is brilliant for them to be involved in the England squad because they have worked really hard for it.

“I hope Leicester can keep doing well like I hope we do as well.”