England pair Walker and Phillips out until the World Cup
England captain Steven Gerrard on Wednesday said he expects his international team-mates will struggle to be fit for the World Cup in Brazil after the players were called up for England’s upcoming training camp.
Gerrard told The Times newspaper: “It was a shock. I think the players will need a few weeks to adjust, adjust to the change in the way we train and the way the game is played.”
Gerrard said his players will miss Liverpool’s Champions League last-16 second leg against AC Milan on Tuesday night, when his charges are likely to be rested.
“The thought of playing that game was a worry for me,” he said.
“That game, we all know, is a big game for us. We know what the manager wants us to do.
“It’s the same thing as a few weeks ago: to get into match fitness. When we have these sorts of things to do we just prepare for them and play when we get time.”
The manager, Roy Hodgson, confirmed on Wednesday that the players would be called up for the tournament, adding: “I can see their faces like I was seeing them yesterday, how they had nightmares about going into the game against AC Milan and then they saw the squad and knew they were in for a hard afternoon.”
Gerrard said: “Those players will be disappointed as they love the game and they’ll do what they can. The players will be disappointed that they missed out of the game they wanted to play, but they are always disappointed in the games they don’t play and missing out in the Champions League is no different.
“It’s not a surprise to anybody. The manager has to put the squad together and be there for them, to see what they are going through and to be able to give them the best advice and support.
“We can’t just ignore the players and it was probably a bit difficult for them when they knew we were going to play AC Milan.”
