Parker to have fitness checked ahead of Euro 2012

23 May 2012 07:17

Roy Hodgson will assess the fitness of key midfielder Scott Parker when the England squad assembles on Wednesday to launch their preparations for Euro 2012.

Parker, who skippered his country against Holland in February, was troubled by an Achilles injury during the latter part of the domestic campaign with Tottenham. He will be checked by the England medical team when reporting with the other players at their Manchester base.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp cast doubts last week over whether Parker would be fit for the Euros, while Hodgson was more confident about his chances when he announced his squad a week ago but will not make a final decision until May 29 - the date the final Euro squad needs to be submitted.

Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson is on stand-by should Parker be ruled out.

Hodgson has had to wait three weeks since becoming new head coach to link up with new skipper Steven Gerrard and the majority of the players chosen for Poland and Ukraine this summer.

The conclusion of the Barclays Premier League season and the need for players to take a short break before the summer exertions has delayed Hodgson's involvement with the squad.

It leaves the former West Brom boss just 19 days and two friendly internationals against Norway and Belgium to hone his plans and ideas before the Euro 2012 opener with France on June 11.

The players will undergo their first training sessions with Hodgson on Wednesday and Thursday before flying out to Oslo on Friday for the clash with Norway the following day.

It is the first time they have been together since the 3-2 defeat by Holland at Wembley in late February - and it will be next week before a full compliment of players is at Hodgson's disposal.

The Chelsea contingent of John Terry, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and Gary Cahill - plus stand-by player Daniel Sturridge - have been given extra time off after the club's Champions League heroics. They will not report for duty until next Tuesday.

Source: PA