England boss Roy Hodgson has defended Tom Cleverley after an online petition was set up to try and ban Tom Cleverley from going to Brazil for the World Cup this summer. The petition, which accuses Cleverley of “inept” displays, has gained over 10,000 signatures since it was posted. Hodgson, who has included Cleverley in his squad for tonight’s friendly against Denmark at Wembley, said, “It doesn’t impress me.”
“He deserves to be in this 30-man squad. He’s done an awful lot of good.”
Cleverley has been part of the Manchester United side this season that have struggled this season under David Moyes’ first season and sit 7th in the Premier League table. Though while Hodgson is adamant Cleverley is deserved of a place in the squad for the friendly, he added there is no guarentee for anyone in the 23-man squad for Brazil this summer.
“Whether he’ll make the final 23 or not will of course depend on a lot of things, not least of all how he does for his club over the next couple of months. But that doesn’t apply to Cleverley, that applies to many good players. I’m disappointed that Tom, a sensitive young man, has somehow had to beat this burden.”
“But I know one thing… he will come through it and when he does come through it and Manchester United start winning again, he’ll be stronger for it.”
By Ben Kelly
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