Training day: Hodgson keen to get on with it

There were lots of instructions to the players during the practice match, just as there were plenty of points he then made in an animated conversation with Hodgson and Ray Lewington at the end of the session.

Already you can see Neville becoming a valuable member of Hodgson's staff.

He played simply because Hodgson was short of defenders and while that's fair enough with respect to the injured players and those recovering from the physical demands of a 120-minute Champions League final, it does raise the question of why Terry is not here in Manchester this week.

Terry did not play in Munich because of suspension, so why the need for him to report on May 29 as well?

It meant that Lescott was partnered with Phil Jagielka in what looked like it might be the team come Saturday night's friendly in Norway, which in turn means a member of the standby squad could be starting one of the two friendlies Hodgson has before meeting France on June 11.

In fairness to Hodgson, it would not be a first.

Players have appeared in warm-up games in the past only to be left behind for the tournament.

But it still seems unnecessary when Terry has not played since May 13.
Hodgson nevertheless seemed happy.

He believes in working at a high intensity for 35 minutes, this being the maximum amount of time players can absorb information and instructions before the brain starts to switch off.

But he seemed to get his points across well and Carroll's performance excited him.

Given the fitness concerns over Danny Welbeck and the fact that Wayne Rooney will miss the group encounters with France and Sweden because of the red card he received in Montenegro, Carroll's return to form is timely.

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