England manager Roy Hodgson believes Daniel Sturridge, Ryan Bertrand and Tom Cleverley have benefited from their Olympic experience.
England coach could rest stars for uncapped youngsters
England manager Roy Hodgson believes that Daniel Sturridge, Ryan Bertrand and Tom Cleverley have benefited from their Olympic experience.
On Friday, Hodgson will reveal his squad for the friendly against Italy on 15th August in what will be England's first game since losing to the Azzurri on penalties in the Euro 2012 quarter-finals.
The former West Brom manager suggested in the past that he may use some players who were not part of his Euro 2012 squad and that could lead to call-ups for Bertrand, Sturridge and Cleverley.
He told
FATV: "Most of them are pretty much ready anyway, but one or two of the younger players like Bertrand and Sturridge and like Tom Cleverley may have not been quite so much a fixture in their teams.
Interesting
"Let's hope the Olympic experience with Team GB has given them a better chance of staking a claim for a regular spot.
"There will be players involved in that game who weren't part of the Euros and I'm sure Italy will make changes too, so it won't be two similar line-ups from then but it will be quite interesting to play so soon after our elimination against them."
Hodgson managed to watch Team GB twice during the Olympics, and will also be in attendance at this weekend's Community Shield when Manchester City and Chelsea meet at Villa Park.
However, Hodgson has revealed that English clubs' pre-season plans have made picking his squad more difficult than in the past.
He added: "It's been more difficult than usual this year because the clubs have travelled so far.
"Most of the top clubs have travelled to places like America, China and South Korea so it has been difficult to keep tabs on it.
"But we've done the best we can over the last couple of weeks before Friday's squad announcement and I will manage to see some matches."
