Hodgson keen for youth injection

Roy Hodgson believes England need to grant more opportunities to youngsters after the side’s penalty shoot-out defeat to Italy at Euro 2012.

Hodgson is keen to integrate some newer, fresher faces into the fold in time for their next game, which, coincidentally, is against Italy in August.

“You will definitely see some revolution there because that game is going to be the ideal opportunity for me to look at some players who weren’t with us here and maybe feel they should have been,” Hodgson told reporters.

“I want to see if they can add to the quality of our team.”

The World Cup 2014 qualifying campaign gets underway shortly after the Italy game, with September matches against Moldova and Ukraine.

Hodgson remains keen on striking the right balance between experience and youthful vigour.

“By the time we get to those qualifiers I will have to mix together what I’ve seen of the players who were here and what I’ve seen of the other players from the Premier League,” he said.

“At all costs, we have to retain the two elements this tournament has given us; our defensive discipline, organisation and teamwork, and the desire to be part of an England team, to really go the extra mile to be able to wear the shirt.

“The next question is: Can we improve the quality within our team?

“I’m hoping one or two players will knock so hard on my door that they prove to be the right ones.”