Hodgson backs Baines

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England boss Roy Hodgson has backed Leighton Baines to push Ashley Cole as the Chelsea man fights to regain his place in the national team tonight.

Many pundits have said that Baines should start in Poland tonight, and Hodgson hinted that Baines may well be in with a shout to retain his spot after playing well in his last four starts.

“Ashley is still a fantastic player,” England manager Roy Hodgson said. “We are lucky though, because Ashley was regarded as the only left-back in England for many years.

“Now we have Leighton Baines, who will always push him, and some interesting younger left-backs like Kieran Gibbs and Ryan Bertrand.

“It’s been a problem position in many of the countries I’ve worked, but we are very well off, which is encouraging because, if anything, the importance of their role has increased.”

2 Comments

1. 

   scouser

   October 16, 2012 at 18:46

   what a cop out from a man who’s worried the press will attack him for not allowing cole to get closer to 100 caps, at present baines his miles ahead of cole in speed crossing the ball and endurance, we all know cole wont get 101 caps but we have an england manager with no balls, it showed he had none when he was the liverpool manager by allowing gerard & carragher to run the club
2. 

   Ali

   October 16, 2012 at 18:58

   you seem to be either Everton supporter or one of dedicated ante-Cole campaigners. It is not important a player reaches 100 or 200 caps for country. What is important is for the manager to chose a best player available to him in the country for the sake of national pride. Nothing will be more important to England manger than wining games and therefore choosing best players that he believe to be.