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Roy Hodgson: James Milner is the key man
ROY HODGSON hopes James Milner is the ideal man to give England a hefty shove towards the World Cup.
With Danny Welbeck suspended for Tuesday’s pivotal trip to Ukraine, Milner showed enough in his 20-minute cameo in Friday’s 4-0 win over Moldova at Wembley to show he can step in.
The 27-year-old, who has scored just once in 40 internationals, might not have the physical attributes of Welbeck, nor the acceleration and dribbling skills of Theo Walcott.
But on an evening when durability and hard work are likely to be key elements of a positive England performance, Hodgson says there is no- one more suited to the role.
Hodgson said: “He isn’t, and doesn’t pretend to be, as exciting as some of the wingers we sometimes use these days.
“But we are going to need experience in Kiev. Milner is not a winger, but the qualities he brings could be very useful.”