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Rooney will go to Euro 2012 - Hodgson

Roy Hodgson is the first England manager appointed by the FA to have had previous international experience © PA Photos

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Roy Hodgson did not give too much away about the make-up of his England squad for Euro 2012, but he did confirm that Wayne Rooney will board the plane unless injury prevents him.

Hodgson was confirmed as the new England manager on Tuesday afternoon, signing a four-year deal with the Football Association. The long-term contract will see Hodgson guide England into two European Championships and one World Cup.

The first of those takes place in Ukraine and Poland this summer, and arguably England's most talented player, Rooney, is suspended for the opening two matches. Given the fact that England could go home after their third match if they exit at the group stage, there were doubts as to whether the Manchester United man would feature in the squad at all.

"I'm looking forward to Wayne Rooney coming to the Euros with us and looking forward to his contribution, even though he can't play in the first two games," the new England manager said, before revealing the squad would not be named until after the final day of the Premier League season.

"Hopefully I've got time on my hands to make the necessary decisions," Hodgson said. "I've been working in the country for five years so plenty of the players are well known to me. It's important after this press conference to get straight down to work.

"We're likely to put back the squad announcement until after the last game of the season."

Hodgson was less forthcoming on other issues, such as the England captaincy. His skipper at former club Liverpool was Steven Gerrard, but the new England boss would not confirm that Gerrard would lead the team into Euro 2012.

"The England captain will have to be very carefully thought out. I'll skip that in this press conference!" Hodgson said. "It's obviously one of the things I'll be addressing in the next few days."

The situation regarding Rio Ferdinand and John Terry was also raised, in relation to the allegation of Rio's brother Anton that Terry racially abused him during a Premier League game - something Terry denies. Asked if Rio Ferdinand and Terry could play in the same England side, Hodgson explained that he would be speaking to both players.

"The important thing is to speak to as many players as possible, and John and Rio are two of those," Hodgson explained. "I can't say any more than that. I need to speak to them first."

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