Chris Sutton says his decision to once turn down playing for England was 'impetuous'.
Chris Sutton has conceded his decision to once turn his back on playing for England was 'a bit impetuous'.
During the build-up to the 1998 World Cup finals, then-England coach Glenn Hoddle wanted to see Sutton in a B game against Chile.
The striker had previously picked up his only senior cap against Cameroon in November 1997 and felt he deserved inclusion in the full squad for the Chile game.
He therefore snubbed the chance of involvement in the B friendly and was never called on by the national team again.
Reflecting on his decision, Sutton, now 33, accepts turning down that opportunity was to the detriment of his international career, although he tries to keep it in perspective.
"Yes, I made a rash decision with England," Sutton told the Daily Mail. "Well, a little bit of a rash decision.
"I don't know if it was held against me when Sven Goran Eriksson was manager.
"I went to Celtic and had five good years there, playing some good football and never got a look-in.
"Let's be realistic, I wouldn't have played that often because there were players ahead of me in the pecking order.
"But that decision back then? Yes, it was a bit impetuous."