Hobbs in frame for international call-up

Leicester City centre back Jack Hobbs could be set for an international call-up, with England Under-21s manager Stuart Pearce keeping close tabs on the defender.

Pearce sent assistant Steve Wigley to last last weekend's home win over Cardiff City, a match in which Hobbs picked up a deserved man of the match award.

A superb season on loan from Liverpool last year in League One saw manager Nigel Pearson swoop quickly to tie up the permanent services of the former-Lincoln City man, a move which has proved pivotal for the Foxes so far this campaign.

The 21-year-old has quickly established himself as Leicester's number one centre back in the Championship with a host of sterling performances in defence this season to help propell Pearson's men into the play-off positions.

Pearson himself has been quick to jump to the praises of Hobbs, saying: 'He is still a young player but I am sure he will be able to play in the Premier League, I have no doubts about that.

'Technically he is a good player but his character is also right and he is level-headed.

'He is maturing but he has had the benefit of playing alongside experienced players as well. He has had exposure to the right challenges during his development.

'Last year was a good year for him in the sense that he was pretty regular for us during a successful title-winning season.

A call-up for Hobbs would be the perfect comeuppance after a fine season to date, but with the next Under-21 fixture not until September against Portugal in a European Championship qualifier, Pearce has plenty of time to watch over City's star man at the back.

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