Hodgson was speaking at a team meeting ahead of England’s qualifier against minnows San Marino which is scheduled to be played on Saturday.
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The Three Lions travel to San Marino for a game on Saturday September 5 and then host Switzerland on Tuesday September 8.
All 22 squad members trained at St George’s Park after meeting up with Roy Hodgson and his coaching staff at lunchtime.
“Hopefully we can go out and do that”, said Shelvey.
Jonjo Shelvey, who seems likely to start in San Marino and be asked to set the tempo from midfield, was yesterday asked about the secret of Swansea’s success and inadvertently championed the claims of his club manager, Monk. It was quite an upbeat meeting. He also spoke about winning all 10 games in the group and hopefully we can go out and do that.
“It would take the pressure off the team and get us ready for the European Championships”.
“I didn’t refuse to play for my country. No matter who plays, I feel anyone can do a job and we can firstly get these two wins”.
On the prospect of adding to that cap the best part of three years later against the same opposition, Shelvey said: “It’s obviously down to Roy if I get to start, and I’ll play anywhere for my country”.
When the qualifying-round draw was made early past year, it was considered a foregone conclusion that England would qualify after being grouped with Switzerland, Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania and San Marino and results have borne out that optimism.
Jonjo Shelvey has spoken of his delight to be back involved in the England setup – and says he will do everything he can to “cement” his place in the squad. I always try to pass it forward when I get the chance.
“The players and team are in a good position, they are very happy with the way everything is going and they want to win”. “The manager just made it clear he wants us to win and I’m sure we can”.
He said: “I can understand why people don’t like me”.
Hurst sympathised with Rooney coming under focus for a recent Manchester United goal drought, saying: “I’d have the same issue when I was playing for England or West Ham where I’d have a patch not scoring – but everybody didn’t harp on about it”. The binges, curries and late nights were cut out of his life.
Hodgson knows that – with his contract running out next summer – his future as England manager will be decided by how the team performs in the finals.
Likewise, he must demonstrate a higher defensive responsibility as England’s deepest-lying midfielder, even if his role as playmaker is a largely progressive one.
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‘I got a bit upset because that’s not the kind of person I am. I don’t have as many rows on the pitch as I did.
