Swansea City midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has insisted that he never refused to play for the England Under-21s, after earning a recall to the senior squad.
England boss Roy Hodgson suggested that the 23-year-old was reluctant to join up with Gareth Southgate's side again last year after he had made his senior debut against San Marino in 2012.
Shelvey, whose form for Swansea this season has earned him a first England call-up since the incident, has insisted that the story is not true.
"I didn't refuse, my dad would kill me if I didn't make myself available for my country," he told the Daily Mail.
"I have always made myself available, I would not turn my back on my country. Every time I get called up it seems to be against San Marino."
Shelvey has won one cap for England.
Written by
Steven Toplis
Steven Toplis
