RYAN Bertrand insists he is “more than ready” to play for England despite only recently returning from injury.

Bertrand was a surprise inclusion in Roy Hodgson’s Three Lions squad for the UEFA European Championship 2016 qualifiers against Estonia, at Wembley on Friday, and Lithuania on Monday.

The left-back made just his second Premier League start of the season in the 3-1 win over Chelsea on Saturday, but reckons his knee is ready for the rigours of international duty.

“It’s about as good as it can be at the moment,” he said about the knee, which was operated on during the summer.

“It’s not perfect yet but, I’m sure in time, it’ll get better and better.”

He added: “It is more than ready for that (lots of game time) – that’s what we had to be careful of.

“It’s the next step (England), so hopefully I’ll give it a good go.”

The 26-year-old made his comeback two weeks ago when Saints thrashed MK Dons 6-0 in the Capital One Cup and was then selected to start by manager Ronald Koeman against Swansea three days later.

The ex-Chelsea man has been outstanding since he came back and has been praised by captain Jose Fonte and Koeman for his impact.

“I’m just taking every day as it comes,” he explained. “I have to play a bit more cautiously at the minute because I can’t go running and up and down like a mad man just yet.

“But each game goes by, I get fitter and fitter and hopefully I can get back up to where I was last year and crack on from there.”

With England having already qualified for the Euros in France next summer, Bertrand is aware that, if he were to impress Hodgson, a place in the tournament squad is within his grasp.

“It’s a good start to be called up and hopefully I can go in there, concentrate on my football and let it take its time,” he said.

Even if the call-up seemed slightly premature to some, Bertrand was keen to take the opportunity.

“It’s always a pleasure to be called up for your country,” he said. “It’s something on everyone’s minds, especially with the Euros coming up.

“Everyone will be going there vying for a place and looking to cement their place for the summer.”

With ex-Saint Luke Shaw having suffered a broken leg and Leighton Baines also injured, Bertrand seemed the natural choice for Hodgson.

That’s not how the full-back views it, however.

“Even with everyone fit, nobody has nailed it down,” he said. “It’s not ‘oh now people have got a chance because certain people are injured,’ I think everyone is in contention at the start of that.

“It’s about who really goes in there and grabs it by the scruff of the neck and makes it their own.”