England boss Roy Hodgson plays down Andy Carroll's Euro 2016 chances
Saturday 16 April 2016 23:45, UK
England manager Roy Hodgson insists he will not be unduly influenced by fleeting form when he picks the strikers for his Euro 2016 squad.
The exciting form of Manchester United teenager Marcus Rashford has also seen his name mentioned in relation to a surprise call into Hodgson's squad for France, with the 18-year-old having netted seven goals in his first 12 matches in senior football.
But the England boss was keen to play down speculation, insisting while he is always open to giving different players a chance, he also feels a sense of loyalty to the nucleus of players who helped their country qualify for the European Championship in style with 10 straight victories.
"We know Andy, we know his qualities," Hodgson said of Carroll.
"In an ideal world, certainly, if you had a lot of places at your disposal, you'd always include a guy like him because he is exceptional in the air.
"But whether or not I'd be able to include him with all these others, I don't know. When the time comes and I'm looking at what's available, maybe he'll be there.
"But I'm certainly not going to pick him on the basis of 'he scored a hat-trick, so therefore he has to be in the England team'.
"Often they're not playing for England at this particular moment because there are plenty of others who have done well.
"Maybe before we start wanting to throw out the guys who have done so well for the latest shout, the latest ice-cream flavour... we should show a little bit of respect to what they have done as well."
Hodgson has shown himself willing to add new players to the squad though, with the likes of Tottenham trio Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Eric Dier having been given the opportunity to impress.
"My hope for these players is that they are given that opportunity to continue to develop," he added.
"Everyone is looking for the new star, the next Kevin Keegan, Bobby Moore, David Beckham - you name the player you want to name, you pick the favourite.
"Everyone is looking for that person but we sometimes forget that the Keegans, Moores and even the Beckhams were allowed to develop without suddenly being thrust to the very, very top once they are in the team, only to be knocked down again two games later when they didn't play as well."
A number of experienced players, including Wayne Rooney and Jack Wilshere, are closing on returns after long spells out with injury and Hodgson admits he and his team have some toughest decisions to make.
"We have got a very interesting situation going ahead with four or five players, all of whom could quite easily be mechanically fit and capable of taking part of the Euros, but will be returning from very long injuries," said Hodgson.
"I think I will have plenty to talk about, myself, Ray [Lewington] and Gary [Neville], when we look at the whole group that could possibly be there.
"There's no disguising the fact that people like Jack Wilshere, Raheem Sterling, Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, for example, Wayne Rooney, a year ago they were five players who were getting into every squad.
"Things have happened to them and we have to reassess.
"If we can be sure they are at the level of fitness and capability to produce the performances they produced a year ago and we are convinced they can do it, they will be serious contenders.
"If we are not convinced, we have to give it some thought."
