Hodgson takes it easy with Rooney 'n Danny
Last Updated: 06th February 2013
ROY HODGSON is on a mission to help Manchester United win the Champions League.
The England boss has promised not to overuse strikers Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck against Brazil tonight as United face Real Madrid next week.
He said: “It’s pretty obvious Alex Ferguson would like me to go easy on his players. I’ve not spoken to Alex but I don’t need to. I was a club manager myself.
“This is a friendly, a very important one. We want to win it, play well and keep progressing — but I don’t want to do that at the expense of players missing important Champions League games and then managers being reluctant to release their players.”
Hodgson is also likely to go easy on Tom Cleverley and Chris Smalling, Fergie’s other players in the squad for the sell-out Wembley clash.
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But he will field a strong side, with Rooney and Welbeck set to start.
If both are substituted, Theo Walcott could have the chance to play in his preferred central role.
But yesterday Hodgson would confirm only that skipper Steven Gerrard and Ashley Cole — who will pick up his 100th cap — will both start.
He said: “I have a team in my head.
“Steven and Ashley will start but I’ve not spoken to anyone else or told them who’ll take part.”
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4780717/Roy-Hodgson-I-can-help-Man-Utd-win-the-Champions-League.html#ixzz2K7rv5lG2
