OVERLOOKED ... Michael Carrick

MICHAEL CARRICK has told England he is not interested being a bit-part player.

It emerged yesterday the Manchester United midfield ace decided to quit BEFORE Roy Hodgson became boss.

He wants to focus on club football.

Asked why Carrick, 30, had not been selected or put on standby, Hodgson let the cat out of the bag by saying: “I wouldn’t dream of putting Michael on a standby list after he has made it clear in the past he doesn’t want to be involved like that.

“I’d have to be convinced he was better than the four I’ve selected and that he’d be happy to come out of retirement.”

Club England MD Adrian Bevington said: “Michael will help in an extreme case.”