Roy Hodgson has indicated he will continue with Phil Jones as England’s right-back and made it clear to Nathaniel Clyne that he has no right “on the basis of a good season” to think he should take over from the Manchester United defender.
Clyne was restricted to the role of a late substitute in England’s 3-2 win against Slovenia and was overlooked when Hodgson withdrew Jones, who was suffering from a minor ankle injury, at half-time. Jordan Henderson was switched from central midfield into defence and at the end of the game Clyne went straight down the tunnel. “I suppose he was disappointed,” Hodgson said.
Jones was partly to blame for Slovenia’s first goal and has had an erratic season at Old Trafford but Hodgson gave him his backing after it was put to the England manager that Clyne had been the outstanding right-back in the Premier League last season with Southampton.
“Maybe,” Hodgson said, “but Jones is a top-quality player. We have great faith in him and we are very happy with him. We think Nathaniel Clyne is a very good player but I would be disappointed if anyone thought that on the basis of a good season with their clubs they can walk in and demand a place.
“If I were to play him and leave out Phil Jones there would have been a lot of questions about ‘Don’t you rate Phil Jones?’ and ‘Don’t you think he’s a man of the future?’ I didn’t notice Clyne walk off and you would have to ask him.
“He’s a good lad, he’s been very solid since he’s come in and we like him very much. I would be surprised if he did that. I spoke to him and explained what I was doing but you can’t expect everyone to be happy.
“After the game when you are walking around the substitutes you won’t get the same smiling faces as you do from the 11 who played. That is a fact of life.”
Liverpool had an opening offer for Clyne of around £10m turned down last month. Southampton want the 24-year-old to extend his contract, which has one season to run.
