John Terry England future: Roy Hodgson rules out return for Chelsea captain - 'retirement is retirement'

There have been calls for the former England captain to return after impressing during current campaign

John Terry and Roy Hodgson pictured together at Euro 2012

(GETTY IMAGES)

Roy Hodgson said today that he has not changed his mind on John Terry and that the Chelsea captain would not be making a return to the England team ahead of the World Cup finals this summer.

Terry, 33, currently injured, has had an excellent season for Chelsea in which he was ever-present in the Premier League up until the weekend game against Newcastle United. The case for him returning to the England team has been championed by the likes of Gary Lineker, the Match of the Day pundit, especially given Terry’s partnership with Gary Cahill.

Terry announced his retirement from international football in September 2012 and despite indications that he would be prepared to come back into the fold there have been no significant moves on either side. Hodgson confirmed today that he was not planning on trying to persuade Terry as his successor Fabio Capello did successfully with Jamie Carragher before the last World Cup finals.

Hodgson said: “John has retired. As far as I’m concerned that is the situation. We’ve got along without him for the whole of the qualification, and quite a few friendly matches, and we’ll have to get along without him in the future. As far as I’m concerned, retirement is retirement.

“You respect that when players retire. We move on. We moved on after the first qualification game when John Terry limped through [in the Euro 2012 qualifier in Moldova]. Since that time we have got on with it and have chosen the players who are available, who have represented us well in my opinion and so we’ll continue with that.”

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