New England manager Sam Allardyce has just faced the media ahead of his first squad announcement next weekend. Top of the agenda is the possibility of a recall for Chelsea veteran John Terry, who last played for England in 2012.
The new England manager has hinted that out-of-favour Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart would need to find a new club if he wants to keep the jersey. He has also suggested that Marcus Rashford, who has yet to play for Manchester United under Jose Mourinho, may be relegated to the Under-21 set up.
Terry and Stones:
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"Allardyce's remarks on Terry will spark the most debate even if it still appears highly unlikely the 35-year-old will play for his country again after his fallout with the national set-up in 2012," says Jason Burt of the Daily Telegraph.
The biggest thing in Terry's favour could be Allardyce's determination to turn John Stones into an England regular. He said it was time for the Manchester City defender to stop being regarded as a "potential" star and deliver on his talent.
"Stones's move from Everton made him the Premier League's most expensive defender and Allardyce believes that under Pep Guardiola's tutelage at City the former Barnsley player can be elevated to a new level, just as Gerard Pique was when he was transferred from Manchester United to Barcelona in 2008," says Jamie Jackson of The Guardian.
And that is good news for Chelsea veteran Terry, argues Tony Cascarino in The Times. "As England manager, who would you want John Stones playing alongside? For me the answer is clear: Terry. Stones has got everything apart from experience and that's what Terry would be able to help him with. It would do wonders for his game.
"The only thing Terry lacks is pace, and Stones has that. Terry's heading is exceptional - he is able to direct his headers to team-mates rather than just putting them into space as so many players do. And he is great with his feet. He uses the ball like a midfielder - for a defender his passing is phenomenal."
Joe Hart
Allardyce was candid about the future England prospects of Joe Hart, who is "in limbo" at Man City, according to the Daily Mail.
"Hart will at least get a stay of execution, with Allardyce confirming he will be included in the squad for Slovakia. But that position may change if England's first-choice goalkeeper since 2010 remains on the bench at Manchester City," says the paper. "Allardyce made it plain that he cannot indulge a goalkeeper who is not getting first-team football, and with Jack Butland soon to return to fitness, Hart may be squeezed out of the squad entirely."
Marcus Rashford
The new England boss applied the same logic to Marcus Rashford. "Rashford is not playing now," he said. "It makes it harder for me to select him, as exciting as he was last year and how he burst on the scene."
He said that he was inclined to send the teenager back to the Under-21 set up in the hope that his experiences there could help him break into the Manchester United team.
Wayne Rooney
Rashford was described as a "superior" player to current England captain Wayne Rooney by Jonathan Wilson of The Guardian this week, but Rooney will remain in the England squad although his future as national captain is up in the air.
"Allardyce will name the England captain when the squad meet up. He hailed the incumbent, Wayne Rooney, as a 'fantastic, fantastic captain' but, for now, the manager refused to say whether the 30-year-old would continue in the role," reports the Telegraph. "Allardyce, however, has decided who will lead the team.
"He also contributed to the debate over Rooney's best position, suggesting his future lies where he plays at present for Manchester United, as a 'number ten' behind the main striker."
