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Late move for Ruddy to be part of Roy's plans

ROY HODGSON has hinted that he will lean on experienced players when he names his England squad for Euro 2012 later today but one of the late market-movers to board the plane was uncapped Norwich keeper John Ruddy.

The 25-year-old custodian has had an excellent season for the
Canaries, helping them to hold on to Premier League status with
something to spare and he could be the main beneficiary if Hodgson’s
attempts to persuade Ben Foster to come out of international
retirement have fallen on stony ground.

Paddy Power cuttheir odds on Ruddy making the squad from 5-1 to 1-7 and offered 4-1 about Foster, who has indicated his reluctance to go back on his decision to quit the international scene.

Another big decision facing Hodgson is whether to take therisk of
selecting John Terry and Rio Ferdinand.

Both are odds-on with Paddy Power to be in the squad – Ferdinand at
4-11 and Terry at 4-9 – but the firm offer even money about both men making the trip and 3-1 about them starting alongside each other in the opening game against France.

Paul Scholes was trimmed to 2-1 from 9-4 and there was substantial support for Jermain Defoe, who was slashed from 5-6 to 4-7.

There have been concerns over the fitness of Scott Parker after he
missed Tottenham’s last game of the Premier League season with an
Achilles injury.

But the 31-year-old appears to be winning his fitness race and is just
1-7 to be selected.

 

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