John Terry in from the cold?
– New England manager Sam Allardyce will consider ending former captain John Terry’s four-year international exile, he revealed on Monday.
Terry (above), 35, retired from England duty in September 2012 after the Football Association charged him with racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand. He was later fined and given a four-game ban.
Roy Hodgson, Allardyce’s predecessor, said in March that England had still not successfully replaced the Chelsea centreback and Allardyce has not ruled out handing him a recall.
Asked if Terry might be in line for an England return, Allardyce said: “Maybe so. I think it depends on what John said.
“Maybe if I get the opportunity, I might have to give him a ring. But until I come to that selection or that process, we’ll wait and see.
“I don’t know what the political side of that might mean, if there is a political side. I’ll have to have that conversation if I feel that John Terry may be a possibility.”
Terry, capped 78 times, signed a one-year Chelsea contract extension in May and has played in their two games to date under new manager Antonio Conte.
Allardyce, 61, was appointed England manager in July after Hodgson stepped down following England’s humiliating elimination by Iceland at Euro 2016.
He begins his tenure with a 2018 World Cup qualifying match against Slovakia in Trnava on September 4 and will name his first squad on Sunday.
Allardyce, known as “Big Sam”, confirmed goalkeeper Joe Hart will be selected, despite having lost his place at Manchester City under new manager Pep Guardiola. But Allardyce warned it is “critical” for Hart to secure regular first-team football if he is to remain England’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Guardiola has expressed reservations about Hart’s passing ability and Allardyce said he would speak to the City manager about the matter. Another England player now under Guardiola’s orders is centreback John Stones, who recently joined City from Everton. – AFP
I might have to give him (Terry) a ring. But until I come to that selection or that process, we’ll wait and see. Sam Allardyce England manager