JASON Wilcox had to cancel his summer holidays today, after being named in England's squad for next week's tour of China and Hong Kong.

And the Blackburn Rovers winger is "chuffed to bits" that the door to a place in Terry Venables' plans for the European Championship finals remains open.

Wilcox will travel East with Ewood team-mates Alan Shearer and Tim Flowers, as England put their final touches to preparations for Euro 96.

And he could yet make the trip with a full international cap in his possession.

England play Hungary at Wembley on Saturday and Wilcox is a strong contender for a first appearance.

It would crown a tremendous comeback from cruciate knee ligament surgery for him to be selected.

But it has all been something of a shock, as he was pleased just to be back in action for Rovers after a year-long injury nightmare.

His call-up to the national squad for the last match against Croatia came as such a surprise, in fact, that the family had already booked their summer holidays to Menorca.

Along with wife Joanne, children and other family members, he should have been jetting off to the sunshine island next week.

But they were happy to cancel and will be even more delighted if he stays in the squad when Venables whittles it down to a final 22 for Euro 96 on their return from the East.

"It's just another step forward for me, but it's hard to take in," said the winger.

"Being called up for England last time must have helped me in my comeback, because it gives you confidence. I'm just chuffed to bits to be involved."

The England squad for the games in China on May 23 and Hong Kong on May 26: Seaman (Arsenal), Flowers (Blackburn), Walker (Tottenham), G Neville (Man Utd), Adams (Arsenal), Wright (Liverpool), Ehiogu (Aston Villa), Southgate (Aston Villa), Campbell (Tottenham), Pearce (Nottm Forest), P Neville (Man Utd), Anderton (Tottenham), Stone (Nottm Forest), Gascoigne (Rangers), Ince (Inter Milan), Wise (Chelsea), Platt (Arsenal), Lee (Newcastle), Redknapp (Liverpool), Wilcox (Blackburn), McManaman (Liverpool), Ferdinand (Newcastle), Fowler (Liverpool), Barmby (Middlesbrough), Beardsley (Newcastle), Sheringham (Tottenham), Shearer (Blackburn).

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