Crystal Palace owner and co-chairman Steve Parish believes centre-back Scott Dann is close to an England call-up.

He also lauded the 28-year-old as being the one of the best ever centre-backs to pull on the red and blue stripes, recently naming him on social media as one of his All-Time Palace XI.

The former Coventry City and Blackburn Rovers defender, signed by former Eagles manager Tony Pulis in the January transfer window last season, has been tipped for a debut international cap, but missed out on Hodgson’s squad for the upcoming England games on Friday and Tuesday.

However, the Palace supremo is backing calls for any future call-up for the Liverpudlian.

“He’s 28 so it’s not too early for him to be called up," said Parish.

“I can't believe he's too far away [from England] given the amount of players England have got at centre-back in the league.

This Is Local London:

More than just a defender: Scott Dann is a leader who inspires the young players, says Parish

“Roy Hodgson is doing a fabulous job with (former Crystal Palace coach and caretaker manager) Ray Lewington and with England and if they think picking Scott is the right thing to do they will.

“What I do know is they come to Selhurst Park regularly and I know that us performing better gets players noticed,” he explained.

What other Palace fans are reading:

I am no cheat, says midfielder

Winner at Stoke City was built in the Championship, says Zaha

Murray and Zaha fire Palace to victory at Stoke

“No matter how good players are, it’s hard for a player to stand out if you’re third or fourth bottom and if you recommend a player to England, it’s like your denigrating the other players.

“I think Scott’s a very, very good centre-back. It would be fabulous for the club if he was called up and it would be fabulous for him because he deserves it.

“I would have everything crossed for him and he won't let anyone down if, because we've seen in every situation under every kind of pressure playing for us, he's been exceptional."

Parish is not just full of praise for his footballing skills, but appreciates the qualities Dann brings as a leader and off of the pitch.

He said: “He's a brilliant lad. A lot of people always say that [about players] but he really is. People might not see that but he really is a top lad, just a top, top person.

“He's very good in the dressing room and very positive. I didn't realise how good he was until he came to us; every week – week in, week out.

This Is Local London:

Assist: Scott Dann jumps highest against Leicester City to set up a goal for Mile Jedinak

“He's a good passer, a good header of the ball and he’s played left side or right side [of defence] but more on the left side as he told me.

“I haven't seen a better centre-back [at Palace]. Probably the only one I’ve seen that would challenge him is Craig Moore, who played for us under Terry Venables.

"He was a very, very good centre-back but wasn’t really there long enough to judge over a period - Scott’s as good as I've seen play in that position.”

Skills, leadership and determination – all what Parish looks at in his players at the club and which Dann has in abundance; inherent qualities which will serve the Eagles well as they continue to progress onwards and upwards as a club.

“He believes we can win every game – don’t underestimate that,” said the Palace co-chairman.

“The belief that you can go to Everton away and win, or the belief that you can go to Tottenham away and win, which we nearly did – you can’t make that up.

“You can say it, but if you don’t really believe it, if you haven’t got that inner strength [it doesn’t mean anything.

“Scott, Mile [Jedinak], Jason - they all think that and that’s invaluable – you need those kind of leaders, people that really believe.

“Scott has impressed me no end, he’s one of the positive leaders at the club.”