ENGLAND manager Roy Hodgson revealed Cherries striker Callum Wilson had been “on the radar” for a full international call-up prior to his knee ligament injury.

Wilson, 23, had five Premier League goals to his name when he was stretchered off 17 minutes into his seventh top-flight appearance at Stoke nine days ago.

Cherries subsequently announced the former England under-21 international, signed from League One Coventry in the summer of 2014, would miss six months.

On Wilson, Hodgson said: “He was on the radar. He has already played for the under-21s so we know about him but he obviously came under consideration after his excellent start this season.

“I am very disappointed by the injury. I can’t say he would have necessarily been in the squad because I am happy with the players we have but we think Callum has a lot of ability and lots of qualities. He is one that we certainly would have continued to follow quite closely.

“But now I have to wait a few months because of his tragic injury.”

And Hodgson had words of sympathy for Cherries with regard to the spate of knee injuries suffered during the opening weeks of the campaign. 

“I can’t believe Bournemouth’s misfortune," added Hodgson. "They have done so well. So many of their players have surprised everybody by how they have adapted.

“To lose three players to serious injuries, trauma injuries, is so unlucky.

"Unfortunately you get these injury spates. It might be unlucky for you and not your moment in time. I think we can say that about Bournemouth and I feel for Eddie Howe.”