Roy Hodgson, the England manager, has already lost Ashley Cole, Andy Carroll and Wayne Rooney from his initial squad to injury, setbacks that had increased Johnson's hopes of playing a leading role in the two games.
Johnson, who has impressed in his brief time with Sunderland since joining from Manchester City, had revealed earlier this week how keen he was to make up for his Euro 2012 disappointment.
The 25 year-old failed to make Hodgson's final squad after being restricted to a fringe role at City. ?It was extremely difficult when I found out I wasn?t going to make the Euros,? said Johnson. ?I missed out on the World Cup two years earlier as well and that was tough.
?I had begun to fear for my England career at City. It plays on your mind a little bit. The England manager has come out and said he wants his players to be playing regularly, so that was another reason for me to go to Sunderland.
?I started the last game against Italy, hopefully it?s looking bright for me now with England. Hopefully I?ll get more games and keep on playing for England. I just want to get my head down, that disappointment [at City] has gone now."
Source: telegraph
Source: telegraph