Canaries' ace handed Italian job

Norwich City goalkeeper John Ruddy won his first England cap as Roy Hodgson's men defeated Italy 2-1 in a friendly international.

The Canaries' custodian was a second half substitute for Birmingham keeper Jack Butland in Berne, Switzerland, on Wednesday as goals in each half from Phil Jagielka and Jermain Defoe cancelled out Daniele De Rossi's early header which had put the Euro 2012 finalists ahead. And Ruddy pulled off several impressive saves to keep Italy at bay as the Three Lions gained revenge for their quarter-final penalty shoot-out exit in the European Championships. Ruddy had been set to be part of the Euro 2012 squad but missed out when he suffered a broken finger in a pre-tournament training session. However, he has now finally got a taster of international football and will hope he did enough to prove he is worthy of a regular place in Hodgson's squad going into the World Cup qualification campaign next month. Following Defoe's winner, Hodgson said: "It was spectacular, a great way to win the game. "That is his forte, something he can do. He does it regularly for Tottenham and it was nice to see him doing it for England."