Hodgson heartened by prominence of improving Barkley
LONDON: England manager Roy Hodgson heralded Ross Barkley’s improving form after the Everton playmaker was named man of the match following a 2-0 win over Estonia in Euro 2016 qualifying.
Barkley created Theo Walcott’s 45th-minute opener in Friday’s Group E game at Wembley with a beautifully weighted pass and went close to adding a second with a couple of mazy runs and shots before Raheem Sterling got on the score-sheet late on.
“I’m pleased Ross got man of the match. We saw what he can do today [Friday],” Hodgson said.
“I’m quite proud of the fact Ross Barkley is still only 21, but has been in the national team for over two years, when he’s quite often not been in the Everton team. That shows the faith I have in him.”
Hodgson revealed after the game that captain Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart, Gary Cahill, James Milner and Michael Carrick will all skip Monday’s game in Lithuania, when England will look to complete their qualifying campaign with a 10th straight victory.
Rooney missed Friday’s game with an ankle injury, but was present before kick-off to receive a commemorative golden boot from Bobby Charlton for scoring a record 50th England goal last month.
His Manchester United colleague Carrick has a groin injury, while goalkeeper Hart, centre-back Cahill and midfielder Milner are all being rested.
Carrick was not included in England’s match-day squad for Estonia after failing a fitness test, but Hodgson expects him to be fit for United’s next game away at Everton on Oct 17.
Defeat left Estonia needing an improbable sequence of events to claim a play-off place, but manager Magnus Pehrsson said his well-drilled team would take heart from their qualifying campaign.
“If you look at the development I believe we’ve had in the last year, if we can have the same this year and even quicker, then we will definitely do everything to qualify for the [2018] World Cup,” he said.
“We are not the favourites, but that should be the aim for us.”