Hodgson's map to Stoke!

A map to Stoke is something that Roy Hodgson is in need of!

That is what Matthew Etherington feels anyway...

Stoke winger, himself linked with an England call-up back along, feels there is a 'certain stigma' attached to playing for Stoke that sees players, such as Peter Crouch and Ryan Shawcross overlooked: 'perhaps the England manager needs a map. You would think so because there's no doubt Crouchie should be in the squad.

'His international record is second to none and since he's came here he's been scoring regularly. He's priceless for us.

'Ryan should be in the frame as well, but you play for Stoke and there seems to be a certain stigma.'

To be fair does Etherington not think that perhaps Crouch did his own England chances no favours by refusing to make himself available as a stand-by for Euro 2012?

Whilst I appreciate a player with Crouch's international record arguably should not need to be a 'stand-by' player, Hodgson did not see him as part of his first choice 23 and by opting out this would have, naturally, got Hodgson's back up...

All that said 'if' Crouch continues his early season form, 5 in 7 is pretty impressive, then I suspect Hodgson will let bygones be bygones.

As far as Shawcross goes, England do have a decent amount of central defenders - maybe few are truly 'world class' - to select from really, and as good as he is perhaps it is just possible that these others are just viewed as 'better options' than him?

To be honest I am not so sure that Hodgson bases his selections on the club the player plays for, if they are doing the business he selects them - so, like I say if these two keep doing the business, to a higher standard than others he is looking at, Stoke or no Stoke he will select them!

Vital England on:

Vital England on:

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.