Rio returns! It was a 'no-brainer' to bring him back, says Hodgson as England recall star for crunch World Cup qualifying double
Boss Roy Hodgson describes decision as a 'no-brainer'
- Ben Foster and Michael Dawson also make return
- 26-man party named for forthcoming World Cup 2014 qualifiers
By MATT LAWLESS
Roy Hodgson admitted it was a 'no-brainer' after handing Rio Ferdinand an international lifeline as the national boss restored the Manchester United defender to his England squad.
Hodgson cited ‘footballing reasons’ for Ferdinand's exclusion in his squad for the Euro 2012 finals and he has remained out of his plans ever since.
But the former West Ham and Leeds star can now look forward to adding to his collection of 81 caps in this month's crunch World Cup 2014 qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro.
'It was a no-brainer for me to bring Rio back. No sinister reasons behind him not being selected in the past,' said Hodgson, speaking at a press conference at Wembley Stadium today.
Rio returns: Manchester United defender Ferdinand is back in the England squad. His last game for the Three Lions was in June 2011
ENGLAND SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS
Hart (Man City), Foster (West Brom), Forster (Celtic).
Hart (Man City), Foster (West Brom), Forster (Celtic).
DEFENDERS
Baines (Everton), Cahill (Chelsea), A Cole (Chelsea), Dawson (Tottenham), Ferdinand (Man United), G Johnson (Liverpool), Smalling (Man United), Walker (Tottenham).
Baines (Everton), Cahill (Chelsea), A Cole (Chelsea), Dawson (Tottenham), Ferdinand (Man United), G Johnson (Liverpool), Smalling (Man United), Walker (Tottenham).
MIDFIELDERS
Carrick (Man United), Cleverley (Man United), Gerrard (captain, Liverpool), Lampard (Chelsea), Lennon (Tottenham), Milner (man City), Osman (Everton), Parker (Tottenham), Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Walcott (Arsenal), Young (Man United).
Carrick (Man United), Cleverley (Man United), Gerrard (captain, Liverpool), Lampard (Chelsea), Lennon (Tottenham), Milner (man City), Osman (Everton), Parker (Tottenham), Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Walcott (Arsenal), Young (Man United).
FORWARDS
Defoe (Tottenham), Rooney (Man United), Sturridge (Liverpool), Welbeck (Man United).
Defoe (Tottenham), Rooney (Man United), Sturridge (Liverpool), Welbeck (Man United).
The 34-year-old, who has not played for the Three Lions since June 2011 under former boss Fabio Capello, may have missed the big news though.
He tweeted around half-an-hour before Hodgson's announcement at Wembley that he was going for a nap.
He wrote: 'Quality training session done! An afternoon nap is on the cards before kids get home and start having me out in the garden doing all sorts!'
But he'll undoubtedly be delighted to learn that his road to Rio has been resurrected.
It will also be the first time Ferdinand has played with Ashley Cole, with whom he had a high-profile dispute over the Anton Ferdinand-John Terry race case.
Hodgson does not anticipate there being any issues between the two, despite Ferdinand endorsing a tweet which referred to Cole as a 'choc ice' - a phrase understood to mean someone who is black on the outside but white on the inside - after Cole gave evidence in defence of Chelsea team-mate John Terry during his trial on a charge of racially abusing Ferdinand's brother Anton.
Terry was cleared in court last July.
‘They are good friends from what I understand, but we are talking about the England football team here, we are not talking purely individuals. I would expect the pair of them to do their jobs,’ Hodgson said.
Recalling Rio: Hodgson has brought back Ferdinand
FA to celebrate Army football
England manager Roy Hodgson and Under 21 counterpart Stuart Pearce will go head-to-head at the Madejski Stadium in May as the Football Association help celebrate 125 years of football in the British Army.
A line-up of FA legends, managed by Hodgson, will take on the current British Army team who will be bossed by Pearce.
The likes of Jens Lehmann, Gary Neville, Gareth Southgate, Paul Merson, Ledley King, Matt Le Tissier and Dietmar Hamann will line up for the FA Legends.
The FA have donated £10,000 to help get the event off the ground with ticket sale proceeds going to service charities that promote sporting opportunities for soldiers, including wounded servicemen who play sport as part of their rehabilitation.
The fixture also forms part of the FA's 150th anniversary celebrations and chairman David Bernstein said: 'We at the FA greatly value our close relationship with the Armed Forces and believe that we should celebrate their work whenever possible.
'In fact, the Army has a proud heritage with the Football Association going all the way back to our formative years in the 1860s. This match will be more than fitting, especially with the Army FA marking their 125th anniversary.'
Ferdinand's call-up comes at a time when Everton's Phil Jagielka is sidelined with an ankle injury, while Joleon Lescott has only a bit-part role at Manchester City.
He has been in outstanding form for United this season and Hodgson hopes his experience and quality can bolster his England side at a crucial time.
‘A man of Rio’s calibre and age you don’t bring in as back-up, you bring them into the team because you hope they make the team better,' added Hodgson.
‘It would take too much guess work to see that he’s not just in the team to make up the numbers.
‘I can’t make guarantees for 2014, but if he continues playing the way he for his club there’s no reason why he can’t be involved at the World Cup.’
Hodgson gave a strong hint that Ferdinand could have a prominent role to play in the double-header coming up, and possibly beyond.
He said: ‘A player of Rio's calibre and also of Rio's age, you don't bring them into a squad as back-ups, you bring them into the squad or the team because you want them to make the team better, to give you a better chance of winning.
‘So it wouldn't take too much guesswork to work out that he's in the squad in order to play rather than to make up the numbers.
‘Like all players you select, you select them because you think they're capable of doing the job you want them to do
.
Football reasons: Hadgson said it was a no-brainer to recall Ferdinand
'But who knows what the future holds? 2014 is still a long way off and if Rio is still going the way he is at the moment, in 2014 he is going to be a major candidate for the squad.
‘He has been playing well and his team have been playing extremely well. I think this is the moment to select him because he certainly deserves it on current form.’
Ferdinand's inclusion and that of Tottenham skipper Dawson meant there was no place for City centre-half Lescott.
Hodgson said: ‘It has been difficult for me, Joleon Lescott and Phil Jagielka have done an excellent job.
Together again: Ferdinand and Cole have not played with each other since June 2011
At arm's length: Hodgson insists Cole and Ferdinand are good friends but it will be interesting to see how they get on
‘But Phil is injured and Joleon has been playing so little football... and with Michael Dawson playing the way he has been playing I thought it was right to include him.’
Ferdinand is not the only returning star with Hodgson also opting to recall Tottenham's Michael Dawson to his 26-man party along with West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Ben Foster, who has ended his self-imposed international sabbatical.
He won the last of his five England caps against France in November 2010 and will provide competition for Joe Hart.
Hodgson is currently without the services of injured Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy while Stoke's recent signing, Jack Butland, is likely to be required for European Under-21 Championship duty this summer.
Glove story: West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster has ended his international sabbatical and returns to the squad
Hands on: Manchester City's Joe Hart is expected to be first choice with Celtic's Fraser Forster challenging him
How it stands: Group H
Foster will also be reunited with goalkeeping coach, Dave Watson, whom he worked with during his spell at Birmingham.
Hodgson pleased with the return of Foster, who has impressed for West Brom this season.
‘We are pleased we have, in our opinion, two excellent goalkeepers,’ he said.
‘Ben is playing very well for his club team at the moment and it is good that he has decided after a long absence that he wants to play again.'
Hot spurs: Tottenham's Michael Dawson and Scott Parker (R) are back in the England fold
National service: Chelsea defender Gary Cahill keeps his place in Hodgson's squad
ROAD TO RIO: ENGLAND FIXTURES
Mar 22: San Marino (A)
Mar 26: Montenegro (A)
Sep 6: Moldova (H)
Sep 10: Ukraine (A)
Oct 11: Montenegro (H)
Oct 15: Poland (H)
Mar 26: Montenegro (A)
Sep 6: Moldova (H)
Sep 10: Ukraine (A)
Oct 11: Montenegro (H)
Oct 15: Poland (H)
Liverpool's Steven Gerrard will captain England next week, starting with Friday's qualifier against minnows San Marino and then the following Tuesday's trip to Group H leaders, Montenegro.
Wayne Rooney is joined in the squad by Manchester United team-mates Danny Welbeck, Chris Smalling, Tom Cleverley, Ashley Young and Michael Carrick.
Carrick is expected to deputise in midfield in place of Arsenal absentee Jack Wilshere, who misses out through an ankle injury, but faces competition from Chelsea's Frank Lampard and Scott Parker.
The Tottenham midfielder returns to the squad for the first time since Euro 2012. He missed the early part of this season after having surgery on the achilles problem.
The news was not so good regarding Wilshere, who has been was ruled out for three weeks with an ankle injury.
Leading the way: Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard will captain England
Centre of attention: Chelsea's Frank Lampard and Manchester United's Michael Carrick are options in midfield
‘It's a blow. It's disappointing for Jack, he had enjoyed a good spell of playing regularly after such a long lay-off. He did so well in a cameo appearance against Sweden and then against Brazil he was man of the match,’ Hodgson added.
‘So to find we can't use him again is a major blow but these things happen, injuries occur in football.
‘We still have a strong squad.’
‘We still have a strong squad.’
Hodgson insisted he was happy with the balance of his squad, believing he has the right blend of youth and experience.
Hands up if you're in the England squad: Wayne Rooney will look to lead the line for the Three Lions in San Marino and Montenegro
Forward thinking: Manchester United star Danny Welbeck and Arsenal ace Theo Walcott (R) are also included
‘In an ideal team you have a mix of experience and youth and if you can blend them together...if you look at all the good teams there are players who have a lot of games behind them and a few who are making their way in the game,’ he said.
‘I would like to think the England team strikes a balance between youth and experience but I would never decry the importance of experience because it's something you can't buy.'
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