...but he’ll miss the next friendly for his wedding

ROY HODGSON last night defended his decision to allow Jamie Vardy to miss Friday’s friendly against Australia for his long-awaited wedding.

The Leicester striker scored the winner against Turkey yesterday, taking his tally to three goals in his last three international games, but will miss England’s next warm-up at the Stadium of Light as he will be marrying fiance Becky Nicholson on Wednesday.

The 29-year- old postponed his nuptials last summer to join up with England for a Euro 2016 qualifier with Slovenia and a friendly against the Republic of Ireland.

Explaining the decision to allow Vardy to go ahead with his wedding this year, Hodgson said: ‘ He will now celebrate his wedding on Wednesday, so we won’t see him for a few days, but we will have more competition when Wayne Rooney, Marcus Rashford and Daniel Sturridge turn up tomorrow.

‘His wedding was planned for last June, I called him up for friendlies and he cancelled it, so he is well within his rights to get married on Wednesday.

‘The public might be surprised, but the major reason for it is because he had to cancel the wedding last year.

‘It was more difficult for me than maybe it would have been to complain about this date.

‘Under normal circumstances, Wednesday would be when we would join up and when he planned the wedding, he probably expected we’d have 10 days off first before coming back for international duty.

‘We know Jamie, we are satisfied with him and I don’t think his place is under serious threat, so it hasn’t caused me too many problems.’

Hodgson also praised Vardy’s versatility after he proved to be England’s match-winner. Having started on the left, Hodgson made a tactical switch in the second half, moving him alongside Harry Kane in a double-pronged attack.

And it worked a treat, Vardy winning a penalty — that Kane missed — before netting the winner.

‘I’m not asking too much to play them on the left or right,’ said Hodgson. ‘I don’t want to get too hamstrung by saying a player can only play one formation.’

Hodgson added: ‘Wins are always pleasing and there were some positive aspects. In large swathes of the game, we played reasonably well, but it was also positive in the sense that it shows we aren’t the finished article, we have work to do.

‘When you play against a team of Turkey’s quality, because they had good moments, it shows these next three weeks will be vital in trying to make sure we stay compact at all times and make life easier for ourselves defensively.’

Meanwhile, Hodgson is confident Rashford will be fit enough to train with England this week after suffering a knee injury in Saturday’s FA Cup final win over Crystal Palace.

The youngster limped off following a collision with Yohan Cabaye, making him a doubt for his first senior England call-up.

Manchester United’s players will report for duty at nine o’clock this morning and Hodgson added: ‘The United and Liverpool players will be involved this week if fit.

‘I believe Rashford’s injury isn’t serious, but we will have to wait and see when he turns up.’