England boss not 'concerned' about playing on 3G pitch for Euro 2016 tie in Lithuania

England boss Roy Hodgson is not 'overly concerned' about playing on an artificial pitch in Lithuania

ROY HODGSON insisted he was not "overly concerned" about playing on an artificial pitch in Lithuania as his FA bosses continue to push for 3G surfaces to be introduced to League Two.

 

A vote restricting the use of "football turf" to the National League and below in the summer appeared to have killed off the possibility for a couple of years at least.

However, clubs in the bottom division of the league were persuaded in meetings last month to look at the situation again by the FA after several non-League sides installed pitches over the summer and the construction of a series of artificial football "hubs" up and down the country began following Greg Dyke's FA Commission findings.

 

FA bosses and chairman Greg Dyke continue to push for 3G pitches to be introduced in League Two

It is likely to be fully back on the agenda a the next league meeting, but the biggest stumbling block appears to be winning over the PFA and the LMA, although last night their England representatives were positive about the surface.

Hodgson said: "We're going to see a trend in future in this type of country, where the climate is difficult, to artificial pitches. If UEFA are going to allow it, we have to get used to it.

 

"The ball will run true and we need to make sure we play the sort of football that will be necessary to win the game."

England captain Phil Jagielka said: "I have played on grass pitches 10 times worse than we will play on against Lithuania when the pitch has broken up and you have not had secure footing."