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Hodgson may be forced to select out of favour players
Aug 15, 2012 11:35:00 AM
The England coach has acknowledged that the concentration of international stars at top clubs forces him to select players receiving only limited minutes in the Premier League
England manager Roy Hodgson has admitted that he may have to select players who are not regulars for their clubs in the Premier League during the Three Lions' World Cup qualification matches.Despite naming Manchester City midfielder Jack Rodwell in the squad for the friendly against Italy in Switzerland, the former West Bromwich Albion boss has expressed doubt over the amount of playing time the 21-year old will receive at his new club.
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"I'll be honest, this year there'll be quite a few times I have to select players who won't be in their team," Hodgson told reporters.
"Jack Rodwell, I don't know how many starts he'll get at City. That's a risk but it's the nature of the Premier League. So few English players in the league and many of them playing for the same club."
"Carroll's been good for us in training, he's been very enthusiastic. I spoke to Brendan Rodgers at length and he's training well, working hard, doing his best to break back into the team. As far as I'm concerned, that's good enough for me."
Goalkeepers are another issue for Hodgson to deal with, despite the presence of Manchester City regular Joe Hart as his established number one.
Aside from Hart, Norwich City goalkeeper John Ruddy is one of very few first choice English shot-stoppers in the top flight, while promising youngster Jack Butland is yet to play above League Two level after spending last season on loan at Cheltenham Town.
"The bottom line is we don't have that many goalkeepers to choose from anymore," said Hodgson. "Go through the Premier League and see who's playing in goal. It's mostly foreigners.
"There's Robert Green and John Ruddy. And there's young Jack Butland, who has done very well but has only played for Cheltenham.
"Let's hope someone like Jack pops up and puts Joe Hart under pressure."
With qualifiers against Moldova and the Ukraine approaching next month Hodgson is hopeful the younger players can battle with his more experienced internationals for places in the first XI.
"At the Euros I had quite a lot of players I don't have with me on this occasion," he explained.
"Hopefully some of the younger players will kick on and make life difficult for some of the guys who have been playing for some years."
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