Roy Hodgson is an articulate man, a decent man too, but the argument he presented in trying to explain Rio Ferdinand’s omission from his first England squad was not a terribly convincing one.

He began by pointing out that Ferdinand had represented England just once in the last year; that he had reached his decision after consulting Sir Alex Ferguson ‘about 10 days ago’. The same Sir Alex Ferguson who had said his 33-year-old centre half would struggle to cope with the physical demands of a tournament schedule.

But then he said Ferdinand’s injury problems, which have not stopped him playing 21 games since the turn of the year and three games in eight days as recently as April, were not the ‘major reason’ why he had been left out. ‘I’d be lying if I said it was,’ said Hodgson. ‘It was for other football reasons.’

Out and in: Rio Ferdinand (left) was not selected but John Terry will travel to Euro 2012

Those other football reasons, he also insisted, had nothing to do with concerns over how Ferdinand might interact with John Terry when Terry is awaiting trial for allegedly racially abusing Ferdinand’s brother, Anton. Having said a fortnight earlier that he intended to discuss the issue with them, Hodgson said he never raised it with either when he spoke to them on Tuesday; Terry in person and Ferdinand on the phone.

Clearly, he felt he didn’t need to when he had already decided Ferdinand was not going to Poland and Ukraine. But, if it was for ‘other football reasons’, what could they possibly be?

He pointed out the need to ‘load other areas’ because Wayne Rooney will have to serve a two-match ban before he is available for England’s third group game, against Ukraine. In the end, he said, he opted for seven defenders to give himself an extra forward, Phil Jones enabling him to do that because he can cover ‘right back and centre half’.

But does that mean Ferdinand, who clearly is fit, is inferior to the same young defender Ferguson would not select ahead of him? Does that mean Ferdinand is now inferior to Joleon Lescott, Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka, who is named among five players on standby?

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