SHOCK ... Martin Kelly's call-up came as a surprise

SHOCK ... Martin Kelly's call-up came as a surprise

 

With Hodgson’s house of cards collapsing, the more urgent demand, surely, was for an old campaigner who knows all about major tournaments. A player who can step in at short notice without the pressure getting to him — and one capable of offering much-needed support for beleaguered skipper Steven Gerrard. But Ferdinand has been overlooked again. And, once more, not even granted the courtesy of a phone call.
No wonder he tweeted in exasperation yesterday: “What reasons?????!!!”
As in, what reasons this time?
Originally, it was felt the former England skipper might not be able to manage the three games in nine days against France, Sweden and Ukraine that he could have faced at Euro 2012.
Yet on closer examination it was discovered he had played three in 10 for United against Blackburn, QPR and Wigan between April 2 and April 11.
He then completed a fourth in 14 days against Aston Villa.
It also transpired that last season he had started 30 league games, just one fewer than Terry.
Yes, at the time Hodgson named his squad Ferdinand had played only one of the last 10 England internationals because of a variety of aches and pains. But as the season reached a climax, he appeared to be managing his fitness comfortably enough. Certainly, it hasn’t been easy for Hodgson.
The scan that revealed Chelsea defender Cahill had broken his jaw in two places brings to a staggering ELEVEN the number of players now unavailable — nine through injury plus Michael Carrick’s decision not to join the squad and Micah Richards choosing not to be on standby.
In fact, there are now just nine survivors of Capello’s 23-man squad for South Africa — Hart, Rob Green, Ashley Cole, Glen Johnson, Terry, Gerrard, James Milner, Jermain Defoe and Wayne Rooney. And Rooney misses the first two games anyway.
Hodgson continued to make the best of a bad job with England’s 1-0 win over Belgium at Wembley on Saturday.
Two games, two victories and no goals conceded. But, as ever with England, it’s all about coping with better teams at major tournaments.
Surely, would Hodgson not have had more of a chance of doing that with Ferdinand?