RIO FERDINAND is set to be snubbed again when Roy Hodgson names his latest England squad today.
The Manchester United defender, capped 81 times by his country, had not given up on an England recall following John Terry’s shock retirement.
But England boss Hodgson is set to bring Ferdinand’s career to an abrupt end when he names his World Cup qualifying squad for the games against San Marino and Poland this morning.
Ferdinand was controversially omitted from Hodgson’s Euro 2012 squad for what he called “football reasons” — rather than his brother Anton’s race case with Chelsea skipper Terry.
And Ferdinand, 33, has not played for England since.
Hodgson’s coach, Gary Neville, admitted this week that England would not pick his former Old Trafford team-mate unless they thought Ferdinand would start games.
Joleon Lescott, Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka are Hodgson’s only experienced defensive options as Spurs’ rising star Steven Caulker has been selected for Stuart Pearce’s Under-21 team.
Goalkeeper Fraser Forster is set to get his first England call-up though.
Hodgson will include the 6ft 7in Celtic stopper in the squad as Jack Butland will be with the Under-21s.
Forster, 24, who will link up with Joe Hart and John Ruddy, started his career with Newcastle but, after two years on loan at Celtic, made the move permanent this summer.
The Sun
