Carrick may reconsider England stance

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick says he would consider making himself available again for England selection.

Carrick, 30, reportedly rejected the chance to be part of Roy Hodgson’s Euro 2012 squad on the basis he was not guaranteed first-team action, but has seemingly softened his stance.

“I’ve had no contact from Roy Hodgson, so it would be wrong of me at this stage to make a decision either way,” Carrick told The Guardian.

“But I would consider it, definitely.”

Fabio Capello had included Carrick in his squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but the midfielder barely featured in the tournament.

Carrick said he was only keen to avoid a similar situation at Euro 2012, but dismissed rumours he had fallen out with Hodgson.

“I didn’t kick the door down and say: ‘You’ve got to play me or I’ll leave,’ it wasn’t a case of that at all,” he said.

“It was more that, if I wasn’t going to play, I’d rather not go.

“During the World Cup I never featured and I was never really close to playing. That was a hard time. I just thought if it was going to be the same scenario again, I’d rather let someone else go in my place.”

Carrick has earned 22 England caps since making his debut against Mexico in 2001.