England virus fear Hodgson calls up kids (THE SUN)

By CHARLIE WYETT

Published: 18 hrs ago

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DESPITE the England squad being hit by a virus, Roy Hodgson’s men are fully expected to keep up their 100 per cent winning record in the World Cup qualifiers this evening.

The Three Lions are 4/9 to come away from Wembley victorious and 5/1 to record back-to-back 1-0 victories against Ukraine.

England have won four of their five previous meetings against Ukraine to nil and even with John Terry missing from the centre of defence, England should once again prove very tricky to break down.

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ROY HODGSON called up three rookies after fearing England’s squad could be torn apart by a virus.

Arsenal winger Theo Walcott was sent home ill ahead of tonight’s World Cup qualifier with Ukraine.

And Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge is also being monitored after suffering stomach cramps.

So Liverpool teenager Raheem Sterling, Tottenham’s Jake Livermore, 22, and Adam Lallana, 24, of Southampton are late inclusions.

Boss Hodgson said: “We need a good contingency plan because it’s a virus.

“Theo trained fully on Sunday and was as fit as a fiddle, then he was violently sick.

“So we’ve brought in three players who interest us for the future and that will fill our quota on the bench. That’s the thinking.

“I had a big squad when I started here and we’ve tried to deal with the absences.

“Going to Moldova, I didn’t think there were any problems there. We had options on the bench and the XI I wanted.

“But we’ve lost John Terry — and Ashley Cole didn’t return.”

Wayne Rooney, Andy Carroll, Ashley Young, Scott Parker and Jack Wilshere are other crocked players who would be pushing for a start.

SHOCK CALL ... Adam Lallana

Hodgson will pick the same team which thrashed the Moldovans 5-0 on Friday — apart from in central defence, where Phil Jagielka could get the nod ahead of Gary Cahill following Terry’s ankle injury.

Yet selecting Sterling, 17, is a massive surprise as the Kop kid has yet to play for the Under-21s.

Hodgson said: “When you bring in a young Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, or those for the Italy friendly and now Raheem Sterling, who’s even younger and has only burst on to the scene in the last couple of games, I’m causing headlines to be written.

“I’ve explained to Brendan Rodgers the thinking behind him coming in — and I’ll make it clear to Raheem.

“He’ll be pretty lucky to get close to the field because there were plenty of players who were chosen in front of him.

“He mustn’t think he’s become a part of the set-up and has made it. He has to try, next time, to make sure he is one of the original 23.

“We’ll be watching him before October to see whether he’ll merit a place in the squad.”

Video:

Hodgson: The time is right to give youngsters a chance

Football

ROY HODGSON explains why he has called up Raheem Sterling, Jake Livermore and Adam Lallana

Read more:http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4531462/Roy-Hodgson-fears-virus-in-England-camp.html#ixzz26BGjbN4F