Roy Hodgson wants weary stars to face Ireland and Brazil

SUMMER PLANS ... England boss Hodgson

ROY HODGSON has told his weary England stars to be available for the summer friendlies against Ireland and Brazil.

The Three Lions manager is refusing to strike any deals with Premier League clubs who want to give their players a rest.

England host the Republic of Ireland at Wembley on May 29 before flying to Rio for a June 2 game as part of the FA’s 150th anniversary celebrations.

Hodgson warned: “A lot of international teams are playing qualifying games during this period so I don’t need to have any worries as to whether the players
I select will come and play for England.”

But a number of top-flight teams are unhappy about the demands being put on their players.

Chelsea and Manchester City have already agreed to play each other TWICE in the USA the week before England’s double-header.

Yet Hodgson is adamant the two matches are crucial to his preparations for the rest of the Three Lions’ World Cup qualifying campaign.

England play Scotland in a friendly at Wembley in August before resuming their bid to get to Brazil with a Group H match at home to minnows Moldova on September 6.