The Three Lions boss defenders Cleverley after online campaign.
The online petition to have Manchester United’s Tom Cleverley removed from the England squad has been criticised by national team manager Roy Hodgson.
The campaign to have the midfielder banned from the Three Lions World Cup squad received over 10,000 signatures since it was posted, but Hodgson is not impressed.
“It doesn’t impress me,” the 66-year-old told BBC Sport.
“He deserves to be in this 30-man group. He’s done an awful lot of good.
“I don’t think it’s correct people should single out one player for Manchester United’s lack of success this season.
“I would like to think that I’m not going to have the England team selected in the future by petitions from various people who are holding it against one person for a team’s lack of success.
“Whether he’ll make the 23 or not will of course depend on a lot of things, not least of all how he does in the next couple of months.
“But that doesn’t just apply to Tom Cleverley, that applies to a good many players. I’m disappointed that Tom, as a sensitive young man, has got to bear that burden.”
Cleverley currently has 13 caps for the national side after making his debut in 2012, but the 24-year-old has been largely singled out for the Red Devils’ poor campaign to date.
Whilst the Englishman may not possess the natural talent of club team-mates Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata or Robin van Persie, stating that it’s entirely the midfielder’s fault for United’s lack of form seems unjust.
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