Starting role delights Lamps

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard admits he is delighted by his recent form for both club and country.

Lampard celebrate his goal against Brazil in a friendly game last week.

The 34-year-old is the subject of continuing speculation as to where he will be playing his club football next season - but served up a reminder of his powers with his ninth goal in his last 14 Blues appearances in Saturday's 4-1 win over Wigan.

Lampard, who may yet be offered a new contract by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, then continued his good form in England's 2-1 friendly win over Brazil in midweek as he coolly side-footed home the winner.

"It's not rocket science: the more you play you get sharper and you get match fit," Lampard told Chelsea TV. "Since I've been able to play regularly I feel like I've got sharpness and the confidence.

"I'm 34, you still need confidence of playing regular games. It certainly helps me, to get flow in your game; you ask any player that, I'm not on my own there.

"When you're playing regularly and you do start playing well, scoring goals, whatever position you're in, it's enjoyable to keep playing and it helps.



"You have to have an eye on the squad - it is a long season - so I'm not expecting, or asking, to play every single game. (But) it seems to me recently I've been able to play every three or four days, I've enjoyed it."

England fans vote for Gerrard

Liverpool's Steven Gerrard has been voted England's Player of the Year for 2012 by fans ahead of Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck and Chelsea defender Ashley Cole.

The 32-year-old midfielder received 40% of the votes after becoming his country's sixth player to reach 100 caps in November's meeting with Sweden while starring for England 11 times during the year.



Gerrard is a second time winner and said after being presented with the award by Sir Bobby Charlton on Sunday at St George's Park: "It's always special to be recognised by supporters. You only have to look in the players in the team so it's special. I decided after the summer to stay involved, because of the players in the group.

"It means a lot to me when you look at the quality and standard of players in this squad. For me to be picked out to win an individual award is a bonus and something I'm really delighted with.

"It's always a proud feeling to play for this team and the manager believing in me and giving me the captaincy was a huge lift for my personal confidence. I think I've shown a level of consistency that maybe I haven't shown in previous years so it's been a good year."

Gerrard joins Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney in lifting the award twice.

Gerrard, who won the England Player of the Year award in 2007, impressed during the summer's European Championship - setting up Joleon Lescott to head England in front in the opener with France in Donetsk.

Rodgers: "It was a brilliant goal from him to beat Joe Hart from that distance. I thought his performance was immense."

As England skipper he also crossed for Andy Carroll to head home in a 3-2 win over Sweden and had a hand in Rooney's headed goal that beat co-hosts Ukraine.

Left-back Stephanie Houghton was voted England women player of the year.

Houghton was a star performer for Team GB during the Olympic Games and scored the winner against Brazil.

The men's U21 and women's U23 players of the year awards went to Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson and Toni Duggan.

FA chairman David Bernstein said: "Clearly The FA England Awards is about much more than prize-giving and honouring those who have achieved.

"The elite level is the pinnacle of a pyramid that makes English football so

special. They are the inspiration to over two million people regularly playing football in this country. All involved at every level deserve our recognition

and respect."



The evening also saw the Bobby Moore Fund put in the spotlight, with widow Stephanie Moore presenting three of the youth awards.

This month marks the 20th anniversary since World Cup-winning skipper Moore's death from bowel cancer.

Eriksson : 'Absolute leader '

Former England Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has picked Steven Gerrard as his favourite for the Player of the Year award.



At St. George's Park on Sunday night, all 24 England teams will be a part of the inaugural FA England Awards.



And Three Lions captain Gerrard is in line for one of the eleven prizes up for grabs.



The Liverpool midfielder was on the five-man shortlist in the running for the Senior's Player of 2012. Fans voted for their choice via an online poll on TheFA.com throughout December and early January, but we have to wait until Sunday to find out who's claimed the trophy.



Eriksson, who was in charge of England for 67 games from 2001-2006, handed Gerrard the England armband for the first time when they faced Sweden in 2004.



He believes that Gerrard's leadership in 2012 would make him the perfect choice for the award.



“It would be Steven Gerrard for me, he is the captain of the team and played very well last year for England," Eriksson told TheFA.com



“It was very easy for me as England Manager to have Steven Gerrard in my team, to work with him was very easy.

Gerrard gets Sven's vote for the 'Player Of The Year' Prize.

"He is a fantastic football player, he can attack, his passing is outstanding and he can score goals. He is very good at defending and is one of the best midfielders you can find in the world."



Eriksson added: “Steven was captain for the first time under me, against Sweden, and he has grown from that moment.



"He is a leader, absolutely. When he speaks everyone listens, no doubts about that.”

Hodgson: Dreaming of World Cup glory

England boss Roy Hodgson says the team should fight the doom-mongers and believe they can lift the 2014 World Cup.

The 65-year-old replaced Fabio Capello in May following the Italian's resignation



and led England to the quarter-finals of Euro 2012 in his first major championship at the helm.



England's only tournament triumph was the 1966 World Cup, but not having reached a semi-final of a major event since Euro '96, few will expect too many fireworks on the biggest stage in Brazil in 18 months.



But pointing to Chelsea's hugely unlikely Champions League glory last season, Hodgson told BBC's Radio 5 live: "You could say we are far from being favourites for the World Cup so therefore winning it is not a likelihood.



"But you've got to shy away from 'impossible' in football. There are plenty of events that we could point to in footballing terms that you could have said were impossible, but people have done it.



"It wasn't likely that Chelsea would become champions of Europe, especially having to change their manager in mid-stream but they did.



"That was by beating Barcelona and Bayern Munich, two of the best teams in Europe along the way, so I'd like to keep that dream alive."



The former Fulham manager strongly denied the claim that there was a severe shortage of quality players available to him.



"I hope that I will never been tripped into saying, 'well, we don't have enough players or there's not enough players good enough to play for England' because that would be a very sad indictment," Hodgson added.



"I know there are a lot of foreigners in the league, but there's plenty of English ones. There were seven Englishmen playing for Manchester United the other day and they're top of the Premier League.



"I hope I'm not going to be tricked into saying that some time to disguise my disappointment in a defeat or to try and shift the blame to somebody else."



Many of England's players were lambasted for a lacklustre showing at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, after being knocked out in the last 16 with a 4-1 crushing defeat by Germany.



But Hodgson was adamant the general public needed to appreciate the pressures of performing at the highest level, adding: "I would like to see a little bit more kindness sometimes offered to the players.



"There's no doubt in my mind there are as aware of anybody we need to win, we need to bring something back to the English public.



"But sometimes if you put so much pressure on these young people there's no doubt they can be hampered by that rather than encouraged.



"And it's that delicate balance of having the expectation which propels you forward because you want to succeed and you want to show people you can meet their expectations or freezing a little bit because you feel, 'whatever I do is never going to be good enough'."



England currently sit second in World Cup qualifying Group H, two points behind Montenegro after four games.



Hodgson said: "We are aiming to finish on top of the group and not have to go through a play-off situation where you can quite easily lose as well.



"If we can't win the group let's hope to God we can come second and give ourselves a chance at least in the play-offs because the goal is to reach Brazil in 2014.



"In an ideal world we would do it by winning the group and sailing through and be ready when it comes around, but there's no guarantee of course that winning the group and sailing through your group stages helps you when you get to the final competition. We've seen that with England."



England went out of Euro 2012 following yet another penalty shoot-out defeat and Hodgson said he liked the idea of taking spot-kicks after friendlies next year to prepare players for the real thing in front of a packed crowd.



When asked if the England job would be his last, he said: "It would be nice to think it could be.



"It would be nice to think I could be in the job for a sufficient period of time when the time comes to an end to say, 'that's been a great career, I've enjoyed it, I'm quite old, now it's time to pass over to younger people'.



"But it's a dangerous thing to say as well. Football's in your blood."



Hodgson also urged people not to trust everything they read about him.



He added: "I was told by my sister that on Wikipedia I have two sons and I



don't know where the other one's come from. And that I'm a great Rolling Stones fan and, with great respect to the Rolling Stones, I was brought up with soul music and rhythm and blues.

"There're a lot of things that can the written about you. Another thing I



heard strangely enough was that I'm a harmonica player. Someone less musical than me would be hard to find."

Rooney: Tipped to perform well at the World Cup

Roy Hodgson has tipped Wayne Rooney to be one of the stars of the tournament at the next World Cup in Brazil, but admits the pressure to perform can be too much for even the best players.

Rooney failed to impress at the 2010 World Cup and, after being suspended for the first two games of Euro 2012, barely made an impact in Poland and Ukraine this summer.



Hodgson hopes the atmosphere in Brazil will bring out the best in Rooney and has revealed just how determined the Manchester United striker is to leave an impression on the greatest stage.



"Wayne could thrive here on this stage. He's a great player, a player who decides games, and he could be one of the stars of the tournament," Hodgson told The Times on a visit to Rio de Janeiro this week.



"He's an unbelievably talented player who, in his own opinion, still has unfinished business there.



"He would love, I'm sure, to have a great World Cup. He's a player who desperately wants to do well for England and he was desperately proud when I gave him the captaincy against San Marino.



"Nobody wants to do better than him, but of course he bears that burden every time he steps on to the field."



There is a huge level of expectation on Rooney and Hodgson appreciates how difficult that can be to handle.



"The whole of England, including the press, expect him to play at the very, very top of his game and sometimes, of course, he can't do that being a human being," explained the Three Lions manager.



"Quite often in World Cups the responsibility falls upon one outstanding player to bring his team through, and it can be too much. I remember 1994; Roberto Baggio was a massive star - I worked with him later at Inter Milan - and the pressure upon him to really deliver for Italy proved a little bit too much.



"At the last World Cup, we all thought Lionel Messi was going to be the man and perhaps he wasn't.



"Quite often the players have had this burden to carry on their shoulders. We've seen it in glimpses, but at the end they maybe haven't quite done so but still rank among the world's greatest players."

Tuesday's round up of the top transfer stories

- David Beckham is in line for a role at the FA after Chairman David Bernstein hailed the former England captain as a unique sporting figure.



- Manchester City are monitoring developments with Paris St Germain defender Mamadou Sakho, according to Dailymail.



- Manchester City have entered the chase for Sampdoria midfielder Pedro Obiang who has also been tracked by Chelsea and Tottenham, according to the Daily Mail.



- Arsenal and Manchester United are both keeping tabs on Hamburg prospect Jonathan Tah, according to sources in Germany.



- Arsenal are plotting an audacious January swoop for out-of-favour Manchester United winger Nani, according to the Daily Mail.



- Arsenal have hit another brick wall in contract talks with Theo Walcott, according to the Daily Mail. Walcott is out of contract at the end of the season.



- Kevin De Bruyne intends to return to Chelsea at the end of the season and stake a claim for a regular first team place.



- Chelsea scouts will run the rule over Corinthians star Paulinho on Wednesday - to try to decide if he can be the answer to their midfield crisis. Chelsea have also looked at Cheick Tiote of Newcastle and Everton's Marouane Fellaini.



- Paris Saint-Germain insist they have no plans to launch a January bid for Inter Milan playmaker Wesley Sneijder, who continues to also be linked with Manchester United, with coach Carlo Ancelotti telling reporters: "The transfer window for PSG is very clear: the only arrival will be Lucas, there will not be any more."



- Liverpool starlet Raheem Sterling has been urged by team-mate Joe Cole to stay at Anfield following reports linking him with a move to Manchester United.



- Liverpool have made a move to sign Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez.



- Tottenham could launch a shock January bid for Wesley Sneijder, according to reports in Italy.



- Demba Ba will leave Newcastle United as soon as the transfer window opens in January, according to Mirror.



- Reading are lining up a shock transfer window swoop to bring flop Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko back to the Premier League, according to Mirror.



- Steve Sidwell has called on Fulham to pull out all the stops to tie down Brede Hangeland to a new deal at Craven Cottage.



- Premier League strugglers Sunderland will face competition from Palermo to land Manchester City starlet John Guidetti next month.



- Radamel Falcao has dashed Chelsea and Manchester City's hopes of signing him in January by claiming that he is happy at Atletico Madrid.



- Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham target Mehdi Benatia is set to sign for Napoli.



- Sergio Ramos says he wants to spend the rest of his career at Real Madrid.



- AC Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani has told Roberto Mancini to forget about a swap deal involving Mario Balotelli and Stephan El Shaarawy.



- Santos coach Muricy Ramalho says Neymar should sign for Barcelona if he leaves Brazil due to the teams' similar playing style.



- Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim is unsure whether the club has made an approach for Kaka after admitting his interest in the Real Madrid midfielder at the weekend.



- The agent of Juventus star Arturo Vidal has handed Manchester United and Manchester City a transfer blow by claiming the midfielder is already at the "biggest club in the world".



- The agent of young Serbian star Lazar Markovic has denied that the player will be leaving Partizan Belgrade in the near future.



- Spanish champions Real Madrid have joined Fulham and Sunderland in the race to sign Rayo Vallecano hotshot Leo Baptistao.



- Schalke's general manger Horst Heldt insists Arsenal have not made a move for Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and says rumours of an exit are 'fairytales'.



- Ajax star Christian Eriksen has all but ruled out a January switch away from Amsterdam - but he has opened the door to a move at the end of the season.



- Feyenoord have made youngsters Kaj Ramsteijn and Anass Achahbar available for loan as they look for the pair to gain first-team experience.



- Striker Dexter Blackstock has urged Nottingham Forest to open talks over extending his contract, with his current deal set to expire in the summer.

Beckham: I’d love to play for England again

David Beckham road show is moving on but do not think for a minute it is winding down.



After six seasons in the States, Becks plays his final game for the LA Galaxy in the MLS Cup Final against Houston Dynamo tomorrow.

But ask him, at the ripe old age of 37, if he’s thinking of retirement the answer is an unequivocal “No”. Becks has not even called time on his England career.

Clubs in mainland Europe, China, Australia, Brazil and England would still love to sign Becks. However, he appears to rule out a return to the Premier League with QPR or West Ham.

Faded glamour team Monaco have now jumped to the head of the queue as favourites even though they are currently in the second tier of French football.

They are top of the table and backed by a Russian billionaire and you would have to say a stint on the French Riviera sounds very in-keeping with “Brand Beckham”.

It would be particularly appealing to Becks’ wife Victoria and her fashion projects.

Meanwhile, Beckham is also in talks about finalising his dream of becoming an owner of an MLS franchise.

The result of that will, he revealed, be announced ‘soon’.

Becks said: “Retirement hasn’t even come into my head yet, to be honest.

“I feel great, physically good. I’ve scored seven goals, had nine assists and played in the majority of games and physically I do feel I can play on “I’m happy I’ve played in America for six years but now is the time to go and do something different.

“Everyone knows I’ve always enjoyed a challenge in my career and done pretty well with them.

“I feel I’ve got another one in me. “I’ve been discussing a franchise with my manager for the last six months.

“I’m in talks, I can’t say who with, but it’s an exciting project.

“I’m going to enjoy being an owner, It will be announced pretty soon we are going over small details.”

Beckham made the last of his 115 England appearances against Belarus at Wembley three years ago and accepts it is unlikely he will wear the white shirt again.

But he turned down the offer of a farewell cap from then England boss Fabio Capello and refuses to write of his international career completely — despite new manager Roy Hodgson building a future with younger players.

Beckham said: “I’ve not played for my country for quite a few years now.

“Would I like to? Of course. That’s why I’ve never come out and said I’ve retired from England because if there was any chance at any point that there was hardly any players fit then of course I would love to be playing for my country. Will it happen? I doubt it but you never know.”

The MLS invested around £22million in taking Becks to the MLS and the general consensus is that it has been money well spent.

Beckham’s aim was to increase awareness of the MLS and to be successful on the field — and he believes both have been achieved.

This is his third MLS Cup Final and Galaxy are aiming to retain the trophy at their very own Home Depot Center tomorrow.

He added: “On the field has been most important because I want to win trophies and championships.

“Off the field has become important because I want to leave a lasting legacy — and a league that’s in a great position to push forward to challenge to be one of the big leagues.

“I’m happy with what I’ve done getting to three finals in six years, winning one and hopefully winning another one.

“I’ve seen six new stadiums built, there are six new teams, and attendances have been in the top three in US sports “Also Thierry Henry, Robbie Keane and Tim Cahill coming over is great for the game.

“The biggest thing is that people are talking about it in Europe now. Going back to England they talk about the Galaxy and the New York Red Bulls and Seattle.”

Beckham insists the move was not about money even if there are those who refuse to believe him.

He asked: “Do people still question my motives?” he asked.

“My career has never been about the money. Wherever I’ve gone in my career I played the sport because I love it. It was never about the money and never will be.

“I’m excited to be in another final. The emotions will come out and the realisation it’s my last game for the Galaxy.

“But to be in a final at our own stadium in front of our own fans is kind of a nice way to go out.”




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Gerrard - I am a six out of 10

Steven Gerrard has accepted his international career could have been better.

The Liverpool captain will become only the sixth Three Lion to reach 100 caps when facing Sweden on Wednesday night, following in the footsteps of Peter Shilton, David Beckham,Bobby Moore, Sir Bobby Charlton and Billy Wright.



The third and fourth names on that list stand out immediately as true icons of the English game, the man who captained their only World Cup-winning team and its best player.



So often lauded as one of the best of his own generation, it is that standard Gerrard judges himself by.



100 for Gerrard

And, in comparison, the 32-year-old does not believe his own achievements stand up to much scrutiny, as he said: "If they are a 10 I would rate myself as a six or seven.



"(Moore and Charlton) will always be heroes of mine and heroes of English football.



"In football, hero and legend status get given out far too easily. As far as playing for England goes, there are maybe 14 or 15 heroes. The rest haven't really delivered."



It is hard to escape the view that Gerrard's time has coincided with one of international disappointments.



The assessment is not one he disagrees with, particularly when he looks back to the period between his debut in 2000 and Euro 2004.



At the time, Sven Goran Eriksson seemed to have presided over a decent period, reaching three quarter-finals in a row for the first time but Gerrard knows it should have been better.



"I don't really like talking about the 'golden generation' but, front to back, that was a really strong team," he said. "I totally agree that group of players underachieved at big tournaments."



Now Gerrard's aim will be to ensure the next generation, the likes of Arsenal's Jack Wilshere and Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha, are given the best possible help at the start of their England careers.



"I don't want any of these young lads to fear me," he said. "I'm approachable. The first thing I do when someone is new into the group is speak to them because I know how intimidating this set-up can be, especially for Wilfried.



"He has come from the Championship and is not playing against these players every week, so doesn't get a chance to speak to them. I told him if he needs anything, I am here."

Sterling and Osman will start

Roy Hodgson will create a new landmark when he thrusts Leon Osman and Raheem Sterling into the England fray against Sweden in Stockholm on Wednesday evening.

Osman, at 31 years and 181 days and Sterling, at just 17 years and 342 will create the biggest age gap between Three Lions debutants since World War II.

With Tottenham's Steven Caulker included in Hodgson's starting XI as well, his first international appearance since being embroiled in the atrocious scenes after the U21 clash in Serbia, suddenly a late autumn trip to Sweden has taken on greater importance.

"Steven Caulker and Raheem have been playing regularly for the Under-21s and have made that transition," said Hodgson, who has taken the unusual step of naming his starting XI. "Leon Osman is the odd one out. He has been performing regularly and well for Everton but has been passed over.

"I thought it was time to give him a chance because he has been one of the unsung heroes of a very good football club and a very good football team. He is a very energetic player. And the fact he is 31 surprises me because he plays like a much younger man.

"Let's hope that continues and I won't have to worry about his birth certificate."

If Osman is getting due recognition for his selfless contribution to the Everton cause, it is the man who hails from the other side of Stanley Park who will get all the attention, as Sterling will become England's fifth youngest international.

"In some of the Liverpool games I have seen, he has pretty much been the star player," said Hodgson, who first noticed Sterling properly when he was at Anfield and blooded the youngster in a pre-season match against Borussia Monchengladbach, at which point he was only 15.

"He is extremely dangerous with his ability to run with the ball, his pace and directness. He has even scored one or two important goals. If he can do it on a regular basis for Liverpool in the Premier League I have every right to think he can do it playing for England as well."



England team to play Sweden: Hart (Manchester City), Johnson (Liverpool), Cahill (Chelsea), Caulker (Tottenham), Baines (Everton), Gerrard (Liverpool), Cleverley (Manchester United), Osman (Everton), Sterling (Liverpool), Welbeck (Manchester United), Young (Manchester United).

Jenkinson commits to England

The Football Association will apply to FIFA for clearance to pick Carl Jenkinson in the England squad for next month's friendly with Sweden.



Jenkinson trained with the Three Lions on Sunday prior to their departure for tonight's World Cup qualifier with Poland.



However, having represented Finland at Under-21 level, there is some red tape that needs sorting before Jenkinson can commit his future to England.



That is what he wants to do though, and boss Roy Hodgson is keen to see the process completed quickly.



"He made it very clear he wanted to play for England," said Hodgson.



"We are now making overtures to FIFA to try and make certain we can have him as an England player."



The 20-year-old will still have the option of playing for either nation until he plays a competitive match.



But Hodgson insists he would not select anyone just to stop him from appearing for someone else.



"I don't want to trick him into playing for England for a few minutes just to 'block' him," said Hodgson.



"But he had to make a decision because we're very interested in him even if the competition is tougher to get him into the England team rather than the Finland team."



When he is eventually introduced, Jenkinson will be part of an England squad that is slowly changing shape under Hodgson's guidance.



Of their 23-man squad for the 2010 World Cup, only nine are in the present group.



Jack Wilshere, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling to name but three will be live candidates for future squads once they are clear from injury.



It is a far healthier situation than anyone could have imagined following that depressing last-16 hammering by Germany in Bloemfontein, when the future looked so bleak.



And one of the 'new boys' is Jenkinson's Arsenal team-mate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who after being a surprise choice for Euro 2012, is now in the England squad on merit.



"Alex is a player with enormous potential and ability," said Hodgson.



"He came in as the joker in the pack and he's certainly cemented his position.



"Like a lot of our young players, he has to fight so hard to get into his club team but we're more than happy with him.



"He has to take every chance he gets with England because, internationally, there aren't that many games in a year."

Gerrard rubbishes Vieira commitment claim

England captain Steven Gerrard has scoffed at Patrick Vieira's claim that youngsters do not dream of playing for the Three Lions.



Chelsea's Ryan Bertrand was pulled from the England squad due to illness and in light of the furore that followed his Twitter outburst on the subject, Manchester City football development executive and France legend Vieira suggested English youngsters are not as committed as their French counterparts.



"In England, I really don't understand how so many young players from the age of 16 to 21 pull out of the national team through injury," Vieira said. "It's maybe the lack of FA power. Maybe it is a lack of love for the national team as well.



"When I grew up, I wanted to play for the French national team. That was my target, my dream - and I don't think this is the same for the Under-16s and Under-18s in England. I don't think the young players are dreaming of playing for the national team any more. I believe they are not as proud as they used to be."



Vieira's comments have been met with surprise by Gerrard who claims the youngsters he works with on a daily basis at Liverpool are desperate to play for their country.



"I don't really care what Patrick Vieira says," Gerrard said. "It surprised me to read that. The impression I get from young players at Liverpool is that they're desperate to get into this set-up.



"You can see in their faces that, when they're left out, it has disappointed them. The young players are hungry."

Lampard, Bertrand ruled out of Poland clash

England suffered a double blow ahead of Tuesday's World Cup qualifier against Poland after Chelsea duo Frank Lampard and Ryan Bertrand were ruled out of the trip to Warsaw.



Lampard, who has a knee injury, and Bertrand, sidelined by a throat infection, missed Friday's 5-0 victory over San Marino, but England manager Roy Hodgson was hopeful they would recover in time for the Poland clash.



But, after reporting to England's training camp on Sunday to be assessed by the medical team, it was decided that neither would be able to take part.



"Frank Lampard and Ryan Bertrand have been ruled out of England's FIFA World Cup qualifier with Poland," read a Football Association statement.



"Lampard (calf) and Bertrand (illness) did not take part in England's 5-0 win over San Marino, and will not be ready for Tuesday's game.



"Roy Hodgson and his squad of 23 players travel to Warsaw on Monday morning."

Cleverley expected to make England debut

Tom Cleverley is expected to make his England debut in next week's friendly against Italy in Berne after the Manchester United midfielder impressed Roy Hodgson with his contribution to Team GB's campaign at the Olympic Games.

The national manager is due to speak with Premier League clubs this week to offer an indication as to the players he will be seeking to include in a youthful squad to confront the Azzurri in what will be a re-run of June's Euro 2012 quarter-final in Kiev. Hodgson had previously stated an intention to use players who were not central figures at the finals in the summer and will announce his squad on Friday.



The manager has expressed his satisfaction with the impact made by Cleverley, Daniel Sturridge and Ryan Bertrand with Stuart Pearce's Great Britain side, who were eliminated in the quarter-finals on penalties by South Korea on Saturday. While all three will be considered for the game against Italy, it is anticipated Cleverley will be included and will finally make an appearance at the highest level having missed out a year ago when the friendly against the Netherlands was postponed due to the riots in London.



The 22-year-old was subsequently an unused member of the squad for the qualifiers against Bulgaria and Wales before his impact was frustrated by foot and ankle injuries which limited him to 10 Premier League appearances for United, though, fitness permitting, he will now be granted his chance to impress. Indeed, Pearce claimed in the wake of elimination that both Cleverley and Sturridge were ready to make the step up to senior international level.



"Most of them [GB players] are pretty much ready anyway, but one or two of the younger players like Bertrand and Sturridge and players like Tom Cleverley, who is coming back from injury, may have not been quite so much a fixture in their teams," said Hodgson. "Let's hope the Olympic experience with Team GB has given them a better chance of staking a claim for a regular spot."



The England manager had attended two of Team GB's fixtures and watched Gary Cahill, who missed Euro 2012 with a broken jaw, play for Chelsea in Saturday's 3–1 friendly defeat to Brighton. Hodgson will be at Villa Park for Sunday's Community Shield between Chelsea and Manchester City, though the likes of Ashley Cole and John Terry may be spared involvement for the game in Switzerland, which falls just three days ahead of the start of the Premier League season. Jack Rodwell of Everton and Tottenham Hotspur's Kyle Walker, who missed the summer tournament with a broken toe, are in contention for call-ups."There will be players involved in the game who weren't part of the Euros," said Hodgson, whose next competitive fixture is the World Cup qualifier in Moldova on 7 September. "I'm sure Italy will make changes too, so it won't be two similar line-ups from the but it will be quite interesting to play so soon after our elimination against them. It's been more difficult than usual (to watch players) this year because the clubs have travelled so far. Most of the top clubs have travelled to places like America, China and South Korea so it has been difficult to keep tabs on it.



"But we've done the best we can over the last couple of weeks before Friday's squad announcement and I will manage to see some matches. I will be relying on what we know about the players and using the information and the knowledge that we used before picking the Euro squad to pick a squad for this one."

Wilshere ruled out until October

Arsene Wenger says Jack Wilshere will not play for Arsenal before October.



The 20-year-old England midfielder missed the whole of the 2011-12 campaign with an ankle problem, and had minor knee surgery in May.

"Hopefully, we will get Wilshere back playing for October," said Wenger, before Arsenal's final match of their Asia tour in Hong Kong.

"With Abou Diaby returning, it will be like signing two new players. The squad will be strong and competitive."

Wilshere injured his right ankle last summer and had successful surgery, only to suffer a stress fracture during his rehabilitation in January.

A long-standing knee injury then flared up during his rehabilitation, meaning he also missed Euro 2012.

Wilshere hopes to resume light training in August, with his sights set on a return to action in October.



It means he is ruled out of England's opening two World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine, which take place in early September.

Hodgson feeling pressure of England job

England manager Roy Hodgson has revealed he is still learning to deal with the pressure that comes with managing a national side.



Hodgson was criticised for the manner of England's exit from Euro 2012 after a penalty shootout defeat to Italy in the quarter-finals.



The former Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion boss has acknowledged he is still learning to deal with the extra scrutiny that comes with the position.



"I don't know how much I enjoy it," Hodgson told reporters.



"I enjoy the job of being the England national team manager and I accept the things that go with that.



"I certainly don't seek out the cameras but I know they're going to follow me and I have to learn to live with it.



"I'm sure I will get caught out on many occasions doing something I shouldn't."



Hodgson refused to be drawn on the issue of David Beckham's exclusion from the Great Britain Olympic team by coach Stuart Pearce, but said he is keen to see how the young side fares.



"Stuart was given the autonomy to select his team, it was his decision that David would not be a part of it and it wouldn't be appropriate for me to be involved in any comments towards that," he said.



"I'm sure the decision has been debated pretty thoroughly but I've not been a part of it.



"It should be a very good event, and their group is a very interesting one.



"It's a very good competition because it's open to the top professionals, that's very different to the old days."



Great Britain will open their Olympic campaign at Old Trafford on Thursday when they take on Senegal.

Hodgson defends Rooney over Capello criticism

England manager has defended Wayne Rooney's performance at Euro 2012 after Fabio Capello's criticism of the forward.



The former Three Lions manager hit out at Rooney's 'lost in translation' jibe on Tuesday by suggesting that he could 'only understand Scottish'.



Hodgson, however, leapt to the defence of the 26-year-old before continuing to praise the squad for their efforts in Poland and Ukraine, where they fell in the quarter-finals to Italy.



"Capello is entitled to his opinions, I suppose," Hodgson told talkSPORT. "I don't know what relationship he would have had with Wayne but I always think it's a bit cheap to kid on a player who was so anxious to do well.



"His attitude was magnificent. He was putting in extra work in training because he was concerned he was behind the others having missed the first two games through suspension.



"He was trying to do extra work and we were trying to put the brakes on. His desire to do well was enormous.



"In the final game (against Italy) he, along with one or two other players, didn't play to the level he can but that's what football is about. If every player was a robot and played at the same level in every game then football would be a very simple game and we wouldn't need coaches."



Aside from a promising opening 20 minutes in which Glen Johnson and Danny Welbeck were unlucky not to score, England were vastly outplayed by Italy on Sunday and eventually succumbed to defeat in the dreaded penalty shootout.



"Maybe it (the quarter-final) was a bridge too far," Hodgson said. "We ran out of legs a bit in the final part and didn't keep the ball as well as we should have done but it was a valiant effort to take the game to penalties.



"There was a brief period in the first half when we showed what we could do but we couldn't keep that up. Getting to penalties was the best we could do.



"I don't think we could have done much more. The players' focus couldn’t have been better, and the effort couldn't have been better.



"In the first half that showed. At half-time I didn't see any reason to believe we couldn't win the game. But in the second half and extra-time it was obvious they were in the ascendancy and we were thankful for some magnificent defending to make sure we stayed in the game.



"There was no surrender. It was a great effort and I feel very proud of what the players did for me on the pitch. But there will always be recriminations if you don't get as far as you'd like, and achieve what you want to."

Italy beat England on penalties

After a scoreless 120 minutes, England's penalty shoot-out hoodoo continued as Italy won through to a semi-final meeting with Germany on a dramatic night in Kiev.



Former West Ham player Alessandro Diamanti struck the winning spot kick to seal a 4-2 on penalties victory for the Italians after Ashleys Young and Cole had missed for England. It was no more than Italydeserved as they had dominated the majority of the match, with the England goal leading something of a charmed life at times.



For two traditionally cagey teams, it was a very open first ten minutes. De Rossi almost got his name on the scoresheet after just two minutes, but his 30-yard volley came back off the upright with Joe Hart beaten. Glen Johnson then came close for England after a slick passing move on the edge of the box ended with Buffon producing a reaction save to claw away the Liverpool man’s rising shot.



Wayne Rooney almost put Danny Welbeck in, but the ball was deflected out for a corner. Moments later Rooney got on the end of a floated Johnson cross, but couldn’t keep his header down and the chance was gone.



After a spell of dominance from England, Italy began to get more time on the ballbut found it hard to find a way past a solid England defence. Montolivo, Pirlo and Marchisio began to pull the strings in midfield with a series of slick passing movements, but there was no end product for the Italians as first Balotelli and then Cassano failed to trouble Hart.



Welbeck spurned a glorious chance just after the half hour when he shot over from the edge of the box after good work from Scott Parker, Ashley Young and Rooney. At the other end Cassano stung Hart’s hands with a well-struck shot from the edge of the box.



Italy should have been ahead on 40 minutes when Cassano headed Balzetti’s floated ball back across goal, but Balotelli couldn’t convert from five yards as Lescott got in to divert the ball away for a corner. That was the last major action of a fascinating first half – England had started well but Italy were running things in midfield.



The second half began much like the first, with both sides having chances. First Milner sent a dangerous cut back into the Italian penalty area, but the ball evaded Rooney and Welbeck and Bonucci was able to clear. At the other end De Rossi missed a golden opportunity when he shot wide from from six yards.



England were again counting their blessings on 52 minutes when Hart could only parry a fierce Balotelli shot and Montolivo blazed the rebound just over with the goal gaping.



Ashley Young had an effort deflected out for a corner just after the hour after some good work from substitute Andy Carroll, but it was cold comfort for Roy Hodgson’s men who were struggling to keep the Italians at bay.



Substitute Diamanti then forced a good save from Hart from the edge of the box but, as the clock ran down and both sides visibly tired, neither team looked likely to break the deadlock.



Italy almost won it two minutes from the end of normal time when substitute Nocerino got on the end of a Marchisio through ball, but Johnson got across to make a good block. Rooney then blazed a bicycle kick over right at the end of normal time after some good build up play as the game headed for extra time and the prospect of a dreaded penalty shoot-out loomed large.



A shot-cum-cross from Diamanti which glanced off the foot of the post was the closest either team came to scoring during the first period of extra time, with both sides getting men behind the ball when not in possession.



Nocerino had the ball in the net six minutes from the end when he headed home a Maggio cross, but his effort was ruled out for offside and it was down to who could hold their nerve from 12 yards.



Montolivo was the first to miss after Balotelli and Gerrard scored. Rooney and Pirlo both scored before Ashley Young missed to leave it at 2-2 after three kicks each.



Nocerino then converted for Italy, but Ashley Cole’s effort was easily saved by Buffont. Diamanti then confidently sent Hart the wrong way and Italy were through to a semi-final meeting with Germany on Thursday, while England were left to ponder yet another penalty shoot-out exit at a major tournament.

Rooney pushes England to summit

A Wayne Rooney goal on his belated entry to Euro 2012 earned England a win over Ukraine in Donetsk that sent them into the last eight as Group D winners and a meeting with Italy on Sunday.



Rooney, suspended for the first two matches, wasted a good first-half chance but could not miss three minutes into the second when Steven Gerrard’s deflected right-wing cross deceived goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov and left the striker an easy header.



Ukraine, needing a win to go through, came desperately close to equalising after 62 minutes when Marco Devic’s shot was half-saved by Joe Hart then hacked off the line by John Terry.



Ukraine’s players and most of the crowd screamed goal but the fifth official decided otherwise and the hosts were left fuming after television replays suggested the ball had crossed the line.



For the second major tournament England, who were on the wrong side of a similar decision against Germany in the 2010 World Cup, were involved in an incident that will increase the pressure for the introduction of goal-line technology.



The additional assistant referee, introduced to try to deal with close goal-line decisions, did not indicate a goal to the referee, to the fury of Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin.



Ukraine started without their record scorer Andriy Shevchenko who was on the bench due to a knee injury but that did not stop them dominating the first half.



They had far more possession and laid siege to England’s goal for long periods with their first attempt coming after seven minutes when Denys Garmash fired over from long range.



Terry blocked an Evhen Konoplyanka shot that was heading goalwards after 18 minutes and Ukraine skipper Anatoly Tymoshchuk should have done better with the rebound which he also fired over.



A mistake by Ashley Young after 22 minutes allowed Oleh Gusyev to test Hart and the England goalkeeper had to make another smart save eight minutes later, getting down to a shot from Andriy Yarmolenko.



England’s first attempt at goal came after 28 minutes when Rooney headed a Young cross wide with only Pyatov to beat.



He made amends after the break though with his simple back post header to put England in front and, having survived the goal-line incident, they had Hart to thank for a fine save to keep out a fierce long-range Konoplyanka strike.



England captain Gerrard believes his side are slowly hitting form at the right time after securing top spot in Group D.



“It was a difficult group and the idea was to try and win it. No-one believed in us at the start but we’re gaining momentum at the right time,” said the Liverpool midfielder.



“I don’t think tonight’s performance was fantastic, but we stuck together, got the job done and won 1-0 against a good team.



“We’ve been criticised in the past maybe for not turning up, under-performing and we can take that, we’re man enough. But you saw a reaction.



“When you get criticised it’s not nice and you have to react by playing better and I think that’s what we did.”

Theo doubt for Three Lions

Arsenal midfielder Theo Walcott is a doubt for England's game with Ukraine after complaining of a tight hamstring.



The Gunners star was in line to start Tuesday's crucial showdown after he came off the bench to turn the game against Sweden but injury could now prevent that from happening.



Walcott was forced to pull out of training on Sunday and now Roy Hodgson has to decide whether to risk or rest the player for the final group game, when England just need a point to progress.



"He has a slight setback," Hodgson told BBC Radio Five Live. "We had to take the precaution of taking him from the field because he felt some tightness in the hamstring that kept him out for so long at the end of the season.



"Whether he is a real contender for a starting position will depend upon what the medical people can tell me and how much guarantee they can give me that if I do start him he won't be leaving the field after five minutes."

Rooney: I'm excited to be back

Wayne Rooney says he is "delighted" to be available for England again and believes the competition for places up front is "great" for the team.



The Manchester United striker has sat out the opening two group matches of Euro 2012 due to suspension, but is back in contention for Tuesday's meeting with co-hosts Ukraine.



In Rooney's absence, England drew 1-1 with France in their first match before strike duo Andy Carroll and Danny Welbeck both scored in Friday's 3-2 win over Sweden.



Roy Hodgson has already confirmed Rooney will start against Ukraine, with England needing just a point to ensure qualification for the quarter-finals.



Rooney has found it difficult watching the action from the stands so far and is excited to have the chance to make an impact at the European Championship.



Delighted



"I'm delighted to be back part of the team and the squad, and to be involved," said Rooney live on Sky Sports News.



"The lads have done great to put us in the position we're in now and hopefully I'll get the opportunity to play, and try and shine and help us get through the group.



"I've been fine since I joined up with the squad and I've took part in every training session. I feel good, ready and I'm excited now to get back out on the pitch."



Reports suggest Rooney will partner his United team-mate Welbeck against Ukraine, but he feels England are strong in attack, with Carroll and Jermain Defoe also options.



"I think it's great for the team that we've got forwards scoring goals," he continued. "The forwards have done well in the games.



"It's great for me to have competition and I know I need to be at my best to get in the team and stay in the team. It's great for the whole team.



"I know Danny very well at club level and Andy has come in and done really well. He's a big old-fashioned No.9. He's held the ball up, scored goals and they are two very capable players.



"We mustn't forget Jermain as well. He is one of the most natural goalscorers you ever want to see.



"We have four good strikers all fighting for one or two places. When we do get in, we have to make sure we do well."