After the embarrassing nature of their exit from Euro 2016, it’s no surprise that Sam Allardyce intends to make a few changes in time for his first game in The Biggest Job In Football™.
Recalling a nearly-retired 35-year-old defender doesn’t exactly scream ‘fresh start’ though, does it?
Former England skipper John Terry hasn’t played for his country since he announced his international retirement four years ago. This followed the high profile court case for his alleged racist abuse of then-QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, brother of Rio, who Terry played alongside in the heart of the English defence.
Terry was cleared, but decided to call time on his international career, stating that the Football Association had made his position ‘untenable’.
Allardyce has now revealed that he intends to contact Terry to see if he would be willing to make a return to the international setup.
“I don’t know what the political side of that might mean, if there is a political side.
“I’ll have to have that conversation, if I feel that John Terry may be a possibility.
“He may be. I think it depends on what John said.
“Maybe if I get the opportunity, I might have to give him a ring. But until I come to that selection or that process, we’ll wait and see.”
Despite Allardyce’s comments, it’s still hard to picture Terry back in the England fold, despite the lack of obvious choices for the national team at centre half. Chris Smalling and Gary Cahill were Roy Hodgson’s first choices during the European Championships, but new Manchester City signing John Stones – unused in France – is expected to challenge for a place at the heart of the new manager’s defence.
Allardyce’s first England squad announcement will be made on Sunday ahead of the first World Cup qualifier against Slovakia on September 4.
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