John Terry: England boss Sam Allardyce refuses to rule out an international comeback for Chelsea defender

Despite being found not guilty of racial abuse in 2012, the FA handed Terry with a four-match suspension, leading to his early retirement before Euro 2012

John Terry retired from international football on 23 September 2012 (Getty)

Sam Allardyce has refused to rule out an England comeback for John Terry, four years after the former captain announced his international retirement.

Allardyce, who succeeded Roy Hodgson as England manager in the wake of the second round elimination at Euro 2016, is set to announce his first squad on Sunday evening ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Slovakia in Bratislava on September 4.

The 61-year-old is ready to build his back four around £47.5m Manchester City new signing John Stones, believing the former Everton centre-half to be one of the most accomplished defenders in Europe.

But despite the controversy surrounding Terry’s final years in an England shirt, Allardyce admits he is open-minded about the prospect of talking to the Chelsea captain about his international career and whether any ‘political’ issues continue to hang over the 35-year-old within the Football Association.

"I don't know what the political side of that might mean, if there is a political side,” Allardyce said. “I'll have to have that conversation if I feel that John Terry may be a possibility.

“Is he a possibility? Maybe so. 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."

Terry called time on his England career in September 2012 after winning the last of his 78 caps during a World Cup qualifier against Moldova.

Having been stripped of the England captaincy by Fabio Capello in February 2010 following allegations about his private life, Terry was reinstated to the position thirteen months later by the Italian due to a long-term injury sustained by Rio Ferdinand.

The Anton Ferdinand case has had major implications for Terry (PA)

However, with Terry forced to stand trial due to allegations that he racially abused Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand -- Rio’s brother -- the FA once again stripped the player of the England captaincy in February 2012.

While Terry was subsequently found not guilty of racially abusing Ferdinand, the FA held an independent inquiry which led to Terry receiving a four-match suspension, which preceded his decision to retire from international football.

Having signed a new one-year contract at Chelsea this summer, Terry has been retained as captain by the club’s new manager, Antonio Conte, but his international ambitions remain unclear.