Roy Hodgson delivered the ultimate snub to a furious Rio Ferdinand on Sunday when he selected a defender who has played just two minutes of international football ahead of him for Euro 2012.

The England manager responded to the news that Gary Cahill had suffered a double fracture of the jaw in a collision with Joe Hart at Wembley on Saturday by calling Liverpool’s Martin Kelly into the squad.

That decision has left the Ferdinand camp fuming, with the player’s representative and friend Jamie Moralee branding it ‘disgraceful’.

Overlooked - again: Rio Ferdinand has not been called into the Euro 2012 squad despite injuries

‘Lampard, Terry, Barry, Gerrard; all ageing but they go to the tournament,’ said Moralee. ‘Why is Rio  different? To treat a player that has captained and served his country 81 times (in this manner) is nothing short of disgraceful. Total lack of respect from Hodgson and the FA as far as I am concerned.’

Ferdinand was controversially omitted from Hodgson’s 23-man squad in the first place for what the manager described as ‘football reasons’. It was clear, however, that the fact that John Terry faces trial for allegedly racially abusing  Ferdinand’s brother Anton had become an issue.

Manchester United defender Ferdinand also expressed his anger and disbelief via Twitter. ‘What reasons?????!!!’ he wrote pointedly.

Kelly made his debut in Oslo nine days ago as a substitute two minutes from time in the 1-0  victory against Norway. He had only been called in by Hodgson for experience to give the Chelsea contingent an extended break after their  Champions League heroics.

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