Roy Hodgson tells Glen Johnson to get his act together
Tony Barrett
1 minute ago
Rise of Kelly puts England defender’s Liverpool career at risk
Glen Johnson is facing a battle to save his Liverpool career after Roy Hodgson accused the right back of falling below the standards expected of an England international.
The Liverpool manager has become increasingly frustrated at Johnson’s slump in form and the emergence of Martin Kelly, 20, at right back in recent weeks has prompted him to make it clear to the former West Ham United, Chelsea and Portsmouth player that he will not be guaranteed to return to the starting line-up even after he has recovered from a groin injury.
Apart from the opening weeks of his Liverpool career at the start of last season, Johnson has struggled to justify the £18 million Rafael Benítez paid for him 16 months ago and there is a growing feeling at the club that a transfer would be in the best interests of everyone, with scouts detailed to look for a possible experienced replacement in addition to the promising Kelly.
New England Sports Ventures, the new Liverpool owner, is looking to introduce a more circumspect approach to player expenditure in terms of transfer fees and salaries, and the likelihood is that it would question whether Johnson, who is paid about £120,000 per week, is providing value for money, particularly having been recruited at such a significant initial outlay and one that was swelled by an agent’s fee of an additional £2 million.
Johnson has been ruled out of this evening’s Barclays Premier League match away to Stoke City, but Hodgson is unlikely to provide the 26-year-old with a return even when he is able to prove that he has put his recent injury problems behind him.
The manager wants to see tangible proof that fitness is accompanied by form before selecting Johnson.
“The big thing is whether he will be fit enough to play any part in the game, that’s more relevant than whether he will get his place back,” Hodgson said. “He’s the England right back and if he plays like that, one would expect him to come back in. But then he’d have to play like the England right back and up to now, to be quite frank, he’s not performed — very often, at least — to the level I’d expect of him.
“You would have to ask him the question, ‘Do you think you’re playing at top form and are you playing like the best right back in the country for your club?’ If he says yes, obviously we will have to agree to differ and if he says no then you’d have to ask the question, ‘Why not?’ ”
Tottenham Hotspur would be one possible destination for Johnson were a parting of the ways to become inevitable. The full back enjoyed the best form of his career working under Harry Redknapp, the Spurs manager, while the pair were at Portsmouth. Juventus are also believed to be interested but it is doubtful that the player will be sold during the January transfer window, a move next summer being the more likely option.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are continuing to monitor the development of Adam Barton, the 19-year-old midfield player who is considered one of the brightest prospects at Preston North End. Barton withdrew from the Northern Ireland squad this year to maintain his chances of playing for England.
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So which clogger will be replacing Johnson this winter? i'm thinking Luke Young must be quite high up on Roy's list. Clearly an attacking right back doesn't fit into Roy's hit and hope footballing philosophy.
