By SHAUN CUSTIS
ROY HODGSON has recalled Rio Ferdinand and warned: “I don’t want any tensions in my camp.”
Ferdinand, 34, who last played for England nearly two years ago, is back for the World Cup qualifiers in San Marino and Montenegro.
But there are concerns Rio’s rift with Ashley Cole over John Terry’s racial abuse of his brother Anton might spill over.
Rio and Cole fell out during the case and Ferdinand was fined £45,000 by the FA for re-tweeting a comment calling the Chelsea star a “choc-ice”.
Boss Hodgson said: “The spirit in the group is good and I would be un- happy if there were tensions between players.”
Hodgson plans to talk to Ferdinand and Cole when the squad meets up on Monday.
The Three Lions boss added: “I expect the pair of them to do their job with England.
“I don’t expect any problems. We are talking about two very experienced professional players here.
“If there are any I will have to deal with them but I’m rather hoping the long-term friendship can re-emerge and the unfortunate incident along the way can be forgotten.”
Ferdinand, 34, is expected to start against San Marino next Friday and in the crunch Group H clash in Montenegro four days later.
But Hodgson admits that the Manchester United defender may still hold a grievence over being axed from the Euro 2012 finals.
Hodgson said: “I suppose it is a concern.
“But I can’t do more than I am — giving him the chance to come back, asking him to come back, making it clear I would like to use him.
“If he has a grievance against me that I haven’t selected him previously, then there is not much I can do about that.”
Even when Gary Cahill was injured just before last summer’s Euro finals, Hodgson called up Liverpool reserve Martin Kelly.
Hodgson said he made his decisions for “football reasons.”
But there was a strong feeling he did not want Ferdinand and Terry in the same squad given the animosity between them.
Ferdinand then told SunSport readers that he feared his international career was over.
Hodgson was embarrassed when he was caught telling passengers on a tube train that Ferdinand was finished as an England player.
He also said it was time to “move on” when quizzed about Ferdinand after last month’s friendly win over Brazil.
But, with so few centre-backs available, and Ferdinand in such good form for United, Hodgson had to bite the bullet.
He smiled: “You say one thing one day, one thing another day.
“I have selected him because I think he is the right man to do the job. That’s the bottom line.
“I’m hoping he will be pleased. I am hoping he plays so well that he plays every single game England play from now to eternity but I don’t have a crystal ball.”
