Ray Wilkins: 'John Terry deserves England recall'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 20 October 2013

Former England midfielder and Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins believes that John Terry deserves a recall to the international team.

Former England midfielder Ray Wilkins has called for national team boss Roy Hodgson to attempt to coax John Terry out of international retirement.

Terry quit the international stage in September 2012 after a turbulent year that saw him stripped of the England captaincy and fined by the FA for allegedly making racist comments to Anton Ferdinand.

The Chelsea skipper has since been restored to the Blues' starting lineup under returning manager Jose Mourinho, and Wilkins believes that his current form warrants a recall to the England squad.

"Gary Cahill hasn't been in the starting XI for Chelsea and I think Jose [Mourinho] prefers David Luiz and John Terry, who I must say if Roy could have a little chat with [him he should, because] he was absolutely superb yesterday against Cardiff," Wilkins told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"I don't think we are blessed with too many centre-halves and if we could persuade John to have another go at [playing for England we should, because] he was superb yesterday. I have no idea [if he would be interested in an England return] because I haven't had the conversation with him. But it certainly would be one I'd be having if I was the England manager.

"I have absolutely no idea how it ended with him in the dressing room. I've never had the conversation with John. But all I can say is his reading of the game was absolutely superb yesterday."

Terry, 32, has 78 caps and six international goals to his name.