Hodgson has been impressed with striker's attitude
Last Updated: June 18, 2012 5:24pm
Wayne Rooney: Expected to control his emotions against Ukraine
Sky Bet
Roy Hodgson has insisted he is not concerned about Wayne Rooney's temperament as the striker prepares to make his first appearance of Euro 2012.
Rooney has had to sit out England's first two games of the tournament due to suspension but he is now available again and Hodgson has already confirmed he will start against Ukraine on Tuesday.
There have been suggestions that the Manchester United striker might get into disciplinary trouble if he is unable to control his enthusiasm, but Hodgson has been pleased with his attitude in training and is not worried about such matters.
Hodgson said: "I am not concerned about Wayne going over the top. It is a good point to make but I am sure other people apart from myself will be keen to remind him what we want is a good team performance.
"I am not concerned about Wayne going over the top. It is a good point to make but I am sure other people apart from myself will be keen to remind him what we want is a good team performance. "
Roy HodgsonQuotes of the week
Roy HodgsonQuotes of the week
"We want him to help us win a game of football. I have been very impressed with his attitude in training and I have no fears about him.
"People say he may be ring rusty but from what I have seen he is every bit as sharp as when he played his last game for Manchester United."
No guarantees
England need only a point to reach the last eight but Hodgson is refusing to look further than a testing encounter with the co-hosts.
He said: "We have already seen some good teams go out of this tournament. We have given ourselves a chance of going through but guarantees do not exist.
"The team believe in themselves and if the performances have increased expectations then that's good.
"But we are not getting carried away and know we've got a difficult test tomorrow evening."
Hodgson knows England will have to overcome a passionate atmosphere at the Donbass Stadium but believes his players have the experience to cope with such a challenge.
"The players in this squad all play for top clubs, play in the Champions League, play in these sort of matches all the time," he added.
"We know the fans will be right behind the Ukraine but our players are capable of dealing with such challenges."
0 commentaires