England boss Roy Hodgson wants to cram in four friendlies immediately before Euro 2016

ROY HODGSON wants to cram in as many as four friendly games immediately before Euro 2016 in order to offset the disruption caused by a crippling injury list.

 

England face Germany and Holland next March, but Hodgson has informed the FA of his needs before the tournament itself to allow him to fine-tune his plans.

The England coach expects to play at least three warm-up games and that will be extended to another match if the draw for the finals, which takes place in Paris on December 12, decrees Hodgson's side are one of the last teams to play.

 

Hodgson was without 17 players for Tuesday's friendly win over France and has rarely been able to select a settled side throughout 2015.

"We are hoping to have at least three warm-up games, possibly four, in addition to the two in March," said Hodgson.

The FA are committed to playing at least one, possibly two, games away from Wembley before the European Championships in attempt to engender a feel-good factor around the country. Old Trafford is one likely venue and there is feeling that England should also play in the North-East which would bring St James' Park or the Stadium of Light - both of which have hosted senior internationals before - into play.

 

England boss Roy Hodgson wants to play up to four friendlies immediately before Euro 2016

Hodgson, meanwhile, is hoping Premier League clubs will agree to release their England players for a get-together in the New Year in order to bridge the gap until the March fixtures.

A similar plan had to be scrapped last January because it clashed with club commitments, but FA chief executive Martin Glenn has sounded out Premier League executives on the matter.

"I would like an afternoon, or early evening, with the players for two or three hours just so we can go through a little bit of what we have done in the Spain game, the France game and what we want to do going forward," said Hodgson.