Hodgson stands by England veterans

Roy Hodgson has defended his decision to call on Chelsea veterans John Terry and Frank Lampard for England’s 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

Hodgson was quizzed over his inclusion of the Chelsea pair in his latest squad for the matches against Moldova and Ukraine later this month.

The veteran manager cited the example of Andre Villas-Boas, who reportedly alienated the dressing room at Stamford Bridge by dropping Lampard last season.

Villas-Boas was sacked by Chelsea in March, and caretaker manager Robert Di Matteo promptly restored Lampard to the starting line-up as the west London club claimed an unexpected double of FA Cup and Champions League.

“Andre Villas-Boas, when he took over at Chelsea, decided that maybe it (dropping the veterans) was the way he would go, yet eventually they were the players who came back and helped win the Champions League,” Hodgson told reporters.

“I want to win matches and I won’t be prepared to throw players away of Terry, Lampard and (Steven) Gerrard’s quality until I’m sure that there are much better options to take their place.

“Frankly that’s not happening at the moment. They are important for their clubs and when they don’t play their club teams miss them enormously.

“First they have to let me down, but they haven’t done that as yet. In fact, quite the reverse. I would suggest that Terry and Gerrard were two of the most important people in the Euros.”

Terry has proved a particularly controversial selection, with the Chelsea skipper facing a racism charge from the Football Association, which he denies.

The centre-back was picked for the European Championships despite his alleged racial abuse of Queens Park Rangers player Anton Ferdinand.

Terry was cleared by a court of a racially aggravated public order offence, but his presence in the England seemingly contributed to the absence of Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, who is now injured.

“I choose him as a player. Some people are criticising him, some are championing him,” Hodgson said.

“I have no interest in that debate. I’m told I can pick who I want. The other aspect has no influence on my thinking.”

England’s first qualifier for the 2014 FIFA World Cup takes place in Chisinau, Moldova, on Friday.