Poll: Boss Hodgson’s been great for England – Cahill

ROY HODGSON is the right man to lead England beyond Euro 2016 and on towards the next World Cup, according to Sheffield-born defender Gary Cahill.
England's Gary Cahill (Picture: Mike Egerton/PA Wire).England's Gary Cahill (Picture: Mike Egerton/PA Wire).
England's Gary Cahill (Picture: Mike Egerton/PA Wire).

The 67-year-old, in charge since May 2012, had a poor World Cup with the Three Lions being knocked out in the group stages.

Before that, however, Hodgson oversaw an unbeaten qualifying campaign and England boast a 100 per cent record this time around from the first three games.

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This has led to suggestions that the Football Association will look to extend the former Fulham and Liverpool manager’s contract in charge of the national team.

Cahill, who is expected to be fit to face Slovenia on Saturday in a Euro 2016 qualifier, said: “He is the right man and I think he has been great for us.

“We had a disappointing summer, which everyone knows about. Leading up to that we did well, and then the summer was disappointing.

“But we have kind of moved on from there now. The manager has addressed things he wanted to address, changed slight things he wanted to, and it is working at the minute for us.

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“We have a new squad, a younger squad, and we are building and going in the right direction.

“So everyone is behind the manager. At this moment in time we are playing really well.”

Thanks to UEFA deciding to increase the number of countries which compete in the finals from 16 to 24, England’s place at Euro 2016 was as good as secured the moment they beat Switzerland, the top seeds in Group E, in September’s opening fixture.

Since then, San Marino have been beaten 5-0 at Wembley and Estonia 1-0 in Tallinn to leave the Three Lions firmly on course for France.

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With qualification now looking like a procession, attention has turned to whether Hodgson’s side can maintain a 100 per cent record all the way through qualifying.

Cahill, 28, has every confidence the team can do just that.

“It is likely, because we have good players,” he said. “I think we have worked extremely hard and turned the performances around.

“We changed the shape slightly, and I think that worked really well for us. We have kept five clean sheets now on the spin, so it is positive.

“But we need to keep pushing ourselves, keeping in the right frame of mind. On Saturday we want to keep this run and this good feeling going.”

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England captain Wayne Rooney is in line to win his 100th cap in Saturday’s Wembley match against Slovenia, something Cahill rates as a “fantastic achievement” due to the Manchester United forward still being only 29.

Chelsea defender Cahill, with 31 senior international caps to his name, anticipates Rooney going on to break Peter Shilton’s England appearances record of 125. Not only that, the centre-half says Rooney can claim the seven goals he needs to eclipse Sir Bobby Charlton’s long-standing record of 49.

Cahill said: “I personally think he can break both records – if he keeps in the right frame of mind, which he is, and trains hard and looks after himself.

“He will be reaching 100 caps at the weekend, and for someone as young as he is, that is such a fantastic achievement.

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“So I don’t see why not (he can break the record). He is a fantastic footballer and I am sure he will be in the set-up for many more years to come.”

Cahill was one of five England players to miss training yesterday morning but he is adamant that being fit to face Slovenia should not be a problem.

The other four – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Andros Townsend, Leighton Baines and Phil Jagieka also missed out – were also withdrawn as a precautionary measure.

All five should be fit, according to the England hierarchy, while others who did train but had modified sessions included Danny Welbeck, Calum Chambers and Jack Wilshere. They had played on Sunday, as had Ross Barkley and Saido Berahino who were also allowed to do gym work rather than brave a wet morning for the full session.

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To make up the numbers, Huddersfield Town loanee Jack Robinson joined Jamaal Lascelles and Jack Robinson in being brought up from the Under-21s to train with the senior squad.

For Robinson, who joined the Terriers from QPR, being selected to train with the senior players was another indication as to how highly regarded the full-back is by the Three Lions’ hierarchy.

Another full-back hoping to make an even bigger impression this week is Southampton’s Nathaniel Clyne.

Previously a regular with the Under-21s, Clyne is hoping to make his debut in the absence of Liverpool’s Glen Johnson either on Saturday or against Scotland next week in Glasgow.

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Calum Chambers is another option for Hodgson but Clyne, who joined up with the seniors for the first time last month, said of his call-up: “It shows that I am getting credit for the good performances that I have been putting in

“I have been given my chance now and I am going to make it count. I am ready for any game, really. If it is against Slovenia or Scotland, I will prepare myself and get myself ready for the game.

“I feel I am at the best of my ability at the moment.”