Hodgson cagey on Ferdinand future

Ferdinand pulled out of England's away Group H matches against San Marino on Friday and Montenegro four days later, saying he needed to follow a strict fitness plan laid down by his club.

The Manchester United player was widely criticised on Thursday when it emerged he had agreed to fly to Qatar, a lengthy long-haul journey, in order to work as a TV pundit for the San Marino match for broadcaster al-Jazeera.

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