England manager Roy Hodgson looks on before the FIFA 2014 World Cup Qualifier between Poland and England at the National Stadium
Roy Hodgson has admitted Manchester United’s poor form in the Premier League this season could count against their players when he comes to name his World Cup squad.
Hodgson will name his preliminary England squad for the summer showpiece in Brazil a week on Monday and will have to cut down his squad down to 23 players, meaning a number of hopefuls will have to miss out.
Wayne Rooney is a certainty to take his place in the squad, but the likes of Danny Welbeck, Tom Cleverley, Phil Jones, Michael Carrick and Arsenal target Chris Smalling, are by no means guaranteed starters for England and Hodgson admits a season of underachievement at Old Trafford could be a factor in his final decision for his squad.
Hodgson told Sky Sports, “Manchester United are one of the few teams that have had a lot of English players, but football players have to accept their England careers are tied up with their club careers.
“If it’s not going well in their clubs, it’s not going well for them, then it does put your position as a national team player under some sort of threat.
“It is the worst part of the job. It’s a major downside that I can take only 23.”
