England manager Roy Hodgson apologises to Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand

England coach Roy Hodgson has issued an apology to Rio Ferdinand over the way he dealt with the defender's omission from his squad.

Hodgson says he has now learnt his lesson about discussing England in public, adding: "All I remember was that I was talking to quite a lot of people on the Tube and one guy said 'is Rio in the next squad?'. "I think I might have said 'I don't think so' and that is about as far as I went. But I shouldn't say that of course. It's a mistake and I need to apologise for it. "This is one of the hazards I suppose of travelling on Tube trains when you go up to London and then speaking to people who ask me questions rather than sitting there tight-lipped refusing to ever open my mouth. "I've paid for it and I will learn in future. "Maybe this will be a lesson for all the people who see me on the Tube in future: please don't be too offended if I refuse to answer any questions you ask me."

Terry

The question of Ferdinand's selection had been raised again due to Terry retiring from England duty after he felt his position had been made 'untenable' due to the FA pursuing him over the comments he made at Loftus Road in October last year towards the Manchester United man's brother Anton. Terry was given a four-match ban and a £220,000 fine by the FA for using racist language. Hodgson insists he has not even though about whether Terry would change his mind in the future, adding: "It's a hypothetical question. "How can you pick someone in the squad if they have retired from international football? He has retired. Would I pick Bobby Charlton if he hadn't stopped playing for England? "What I've said about John Terry, I stand by every word. "I regret his decision but I respect it. I accept it and I move forward. "I look at the other options available to me and keep my eyes firmly fixed on qualification for Brazil in two years' time."