Hodgson provides Gerrard assurance
Roy Hodgson has provided assurance that Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard is fully fit and ready to play when the Three Lions' World Cup campaign begins this Saturday.
The 34-year-old featured for 45 minutes of a friendly draw against Honduras last weekend, before the squad travelled to their base camp in Rio de Janeiro for the tournament in Brazil.
Hodgson's charges kick off their pursuit of glory on the highest stage when they take on Italy in Manaus in four days' time; Group D also contains Luis Suarez's Uruguay and Costa Rica.
The England manager was quizzed by reporters about suggestions that Gerrard had picked up an injury ahead of the opener, but immediately dismissed the idea and offered an update to the contrary.
"I don't really understand the Steven Gerrard [story]," Hodgson said.
"[On Monday] we did a training session where the players who played [against Honduras] did a warm-down session.
"I worked with the nine that didn't take full part in the game. My understanding is that he actually did some extra work at the end of the training session.
"There's absolutely nothing wrong with him, so I don't really understand that story at all."