I haven’t dismissed anybody – even Crouch, says Hodgson

The Three Lions have suffered a double-figure number of withdrawals from the original 23-man squad with Wayne Rooney and Andy Carroll topping the list.

Despite the lengthy list of absentees and three inexperienced players being called up yesterday following Theo Walcott’s withdrawal through sickness, neither Crouch nor Bent has been brought in by Hodgson but the national team manager insists that does not mean they can’t return in the future.

He said: “I did try to sign him (Crouch) at Fulham. I selected him for the Euros as well, but he didn’t want to come. He was on a standby list but he made it clear that, unless he was in the squad, he didn’t want to be considered.

“As a result, we have selected squads since that time when I felt I didn’t need him in there. I’m not going to bring him in to fill up the bench.

“The day Crouch gets into an England squad is when I think he should be in the original 23. It is wrong to compare the type of players we are bringing in as a contingency plan.”

Walcott became the latest player to withdraw from the squad after being violently sick yesterday morning.

Following on from John Terry’s ankle injury ruling out the Chelsea captain, Hodgson called up Liverpool teenager Raheem Sterling, Tottenham Hotspur’s Jake Livermore and Southampton’s Adam Lallana as replacements despite the trio having just 15 Premier League starts between them.

The coaching staff will be keeping an eye on the rest of the squad to make sure the virus that caused Walcott to return to Arsenal has not spread to the other players.

Hodgson added: “The fact is, for both Crouch and Bent, they played for England in the past. Darren Bent was injured for the best part of last season.

“The new season is only two or three games old. He is a player we will be following. But I was thinking (Andy) Carroll and Rooney when I put this squad together.

“I lost Rooney a week before, and Carroll at the last minute. But I have not dismissed anybody, even Peter Crouch.”

Hodgson has already confirmed that there will be just one change tonight to the starting line-up that beat Moldova 5-0 on Friday night with Phil Jagielka and Gary Cahill vying to partner Joleon Lescott at the heart of the defence in place of Terry.

He added: “I can’t deny that to lose John Terry is a major blow because he and Joleon Lescott have done so well together, all through the Euros and the game the other night.

“To lose a player of his quality and experience is a blow. Otherwise, he would have been on the substitutes’ bench and one of these other two would have played.

“But I have great faith in Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka and I trust them. They’ll go in – whichever I choose – and do a very good job.

“John Terry, had he been fit, would have been the first choice and continued alongside Joleon. I know both players.

“I have decided. I have enough knowledge to make the decision, but I haven’t told the players as yet.”