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Johnson limps out of Hodgson's first training session

ESPN staff
May 24, 2012
Roy Hodgson adopted a hands-on approach © Getty Images
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Roy Hodgson took charge of his first full training session as England manager on Thursday, and there was cause for concern after Glen Johnson limped off with an injury.

Johnson was forced out of the morning activities due to an infected toe, although the FA insisted it will not be a problem by the start of the European Championship but could cause the Liverpool right-back to miss Saturday's friendly against Norway.

If Johnson is forced to miss the game Phil Jones appears the favourite to deputise at right-back, although Martin Kelly is also available after Hodgson added him to the squad earlier in the week.

Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck also trained alone, with the light nature of his workout suggesting he is still recovering from an ankle injury and will also play no part in the match in Oslo.

The rest of the squad were put through their paces by Hodgson - who was armed with a stopwatch and barked frequent instructions - before playing a training match on the Etihad Stadium turf. Scott Parker, who had been struggling with an Achilles injury, played a full part in the game, which also saw one of Hodgson's coaches, Gary Neville, slot in as a centre-back for one of the teams.

With Chelsea's Champions League winning players - including Gary Cahill and John Terry - not due to join up with the rest of the squad until next week, Hodgson partnered Joleon Lescott and Phil Jagielka - on standby for the Euros squad - at centre-back for the other team.

Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain was handed a more central role by Hodgson, who seemed keen for his side to move the ball forward quickly from the back.

With Wayne Rooney also given extra leave before joining up with the Three Lions squad, strikers Jermain Defoe and Andy Carroll both looked in form during the match, while Stewart Downing - who famously failed to score a goal or provide an assist in the league for Liverpool all season - managed to find the net during the session.

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