Striker Steve Morison has backed Norwich City team-mate Grant Holt's claims to an England call-up – rating him the best player of his kind in the Premier League.

Holt was overlooked by England caretaker boss Stuart Pearce for last night's game against Holland, even when Wayne Rooney and Darren Bent withdrew from the squad.

But Morison, with the Wales squad for last night's game against Costa Rica, said 30-year-old Holt had earned the chance to show what he can do at international level.

The City skipper scored his 10th Premier League goal of the season, and his 12th in all competitions, in Sunday's 2-1 home defeat by Manchester United.

'He's had a fantastic season and I've thoroughly enjoyed playing with him,' he said.

'He's scored some fantastic goals, as he did again on Sunday, and is knocking on the door with his performances, that's all you can do.

'Grant's scored against Liverpool, Manchester United, Everton and Chelsea. Everyone deserves a chance.'

In an interview with Talksport, Morison said there was room for a player of Holt's capabilities.

He said: 'I remember a couple of seasons back Kevin Davies getting a call-up late on to the squad and there's no reason why Grant can't do that.

'In that kind of mould he's the best player in the Premier League at the moment in that position. If they're looking for someone to be a bit of a handful and be a different option to what they've got, then why not?'

Holt comfortably topped a national newspaper poll into which strikers should be called up in the absence of Rooney and Bent. England now have just two friendlies – against Norway in Oslo on May 26 and Belgium at Wembley on June 2 – before the Euro 2012 finals get under way.

Morison, 28, with nine goals of his own this season since his summer move from Millwall, has started only two of the Canaries' last six games but is determined to help them past the top-flight survival mark in the coming weeks.

'We've had a great season so far and we're in a very healthy position in the league, but every team wants to get to that 40 points mark and we're still focused on doing that,' he said.

'I think sometimes hard work can take you along way and I think that's what we pride ourselves on – hard work, spirit and showing our bits of quality when it's needed. We have never not believed that we would stay in this league.'