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Wednesday 13 May 1998

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I DESERVED TO BE IN HODDLE SQUAD INSISTS ANGRY ANDY

ANGRY Andy Cole has told Glenn Hoddle: You're wrong to leave me out of your World Cup plans. The Manchester United striker was the biggest name omitted from England's 30-man pre-finals squad announced yesterday, with Ray Parlour, Matt Le Tissier and Stuart Pearce also missing out.

Hoddle recalled Arsenal's Ian Wright and named Tottenham's Les Ferdinand ahead of Cole for the 30-man squad named yesterday for next week's friendly against Saudi Arabia at Wembley and the warm-up tournament matches against Morocco and Belgium. Eight names will have to be trimmed from that list to reach the World Cup squad limit, so players who aren't included can, barring injuries to others, forget about being on the plane to France.

I'd be lying if I said that my form over the course of the season didn't warrant inclusion, claimed Cole, who has scored 25 times for Manchester United this season, making him the top flight's leading marksman in all competitions. But it is not my decision. I don't know what more I could have done.

Naturally, it is hugely disappointing for me. I feel I have worked hard all season and ended up with my best-ever goals tally for United but the England manager appears to have made his decision. I don't begrudge anyone their place in the squad - after all, it's what we have all been working so hard to achieve, playing for your country in the World Cup. To the lads who are selected for the final 22, I wish them all the best and sincerely hope that we can go and win it.''

The Old Trafford man missed his big chance in February, when he pulled out of the friendly against Chile with a sore back. Hoddle says he planned to start that game with a striking tandem of Cole and Liverpool teenager Michael Owen, but Dion Dublin of Coventry ended up playing instead.

Andy was going to play, like Parlour would have against Switzerland," confirmed Hoddle. They were both brought in to give them a chance of playing. It was bad luck for them, but gave others their opportunity. I made the decision that Wright and Owen are from a similar mould and similar styles of player to Andy. You need a balance and a blend, Dion gives us that option because he can play in two positions."

The day's other controversy surrounded who else but Paul Gascoigne, with Hoddle revealing that the midfielder has taken up smoking since his move to Middlesbrough. Gazza will not be urged to kick the habit, however, because England staffers believe it may help him deal with the stress of the finals.

It must put new pressures on Gasoigne's fitness, however, and on Monday night Hoddle listened as England legend Jack Charlton, who managed the player at Newcastle, said he didn't think his former signing could lead England to glory in France.

Appearing with Hoddle on BBC 1's OnSide show, Big Jack said: We should never forget the terrible injuries he's had. But whether he is good enough now to take England all the way to the Final… I doubt it. And without Gazza at his very best, Charlton continued, England's dreams of triumph are going stay in the realm of fantasy.

About three months ago, I remember thinking we had a great chance, that the balance and structure was right. But after the last two games I'm not so sure, he said. Glenn has some serious problems to sort out in midfield. When we won the World Cup in 1966 we had three great players - Bobby Moore, Gordon Banks and our kid Bobby England haven't had three as good since.

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