Roy Hodgson: England manager ready to unveil World Cup squad today

• Posted on May 12, 2014
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

England manager Roy Hodgson is set to name his provisional World Cup squad on Monday afternoon having cast his eye on the final round of Premier League fixtures.

And he will have been relieved to see none of his potential selections pick up new injuries just 24 hours before he announces the 23-strong group, plus seven stand-bys, that will prepare to face Peru in a friendly at Wembley on May 30.

There are still doubts over several players carrying knocks, however.

Wayne Rooney played no part in Manchester United’s draw at Southampton on Sunday because of a groin problem, while United defender Phil Jones also missed the 1-1 draw after dislocating his shoulder last week.

Both are expected to recover fully and be on the list that Hodgson announces at 2pm at the Vauxhall car plant in Luton.

Hodgson watched the game in person at St Mary’s and would also have been delighted to see Adam Lallana, Luke Shaw and Rickie Lambert come through the game unscathed, all of whom appear certainties to be on the plane to Brazil.

First-choice centre-back Phil Jagielka came through the second game of his comeback from a long-term hamstring injury, playing the full 90 minutes of Everton’s win at Hull, and youngster Ross Barkley is also expected to be named despite missing the game with a slight knock.

Arsenal winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been back in training despite missing out on the side that won at Norwich on the final day, and he may be on the stand-by list, but Tottenham right-back Kyle Walker, who is nursing a pelvic problem and has not played since March, is set to miss out according to Sky sources.

Ashley Cole played in Chelsea’s win away at relegated Cardiff but has been told he will not be a part of the squad so that Southampton’s Shaw can feature in his first World Cup and challenge Leighton Baines for the left-back spot.

Youngster Shaw, the subject of a £27million bid from Manchester United, is expected to be one of at least eight players under the age of 24 named in the group along with Jack Wilshere, Jordan Henderson, Danny Welbeck and Raheem Sterling.

Although the crux of the squad appears obvious, there are still question marks hanging over the likes of Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley, James Milner, Chris Smalling and Frank Lampard.

Hodgson will settle on a final 23-man squad, to be decided by June 2, which will travel for pre-tournament preparations in Florida and take on further friendlies against Ecuador on June 4 and Honduras on June 7.

England’s opener against Italy takes place in Manaus on June 14.

-skysports