CHRIS Sutton will not be affected one way or the other by Glenn Hoddle's latest verbal assault which dismisses any chance of a return to the national side under the present regime.

That's the view of Blackburn Rovers boss Roy Hodgson, who refused to become involved in the dispute but said his £5 million striker already knew the score.

Sutton, in fact, had already told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph some months ago that he feared the worst about his future England opportunities.

Hoddle's attack was published today in a national newspaper, which is serialising his book, and he says: "Chris let himself down. I don't need someone who doesn't want to play for his country."

But Sutton's club boss Hodgson, who believes his striker is right up there with the best in the land, said: "I prefer to stay out of the whole thing, but I don't think it will bother Chris Sutton.

"He has been aware of the situation for some time. In fact I think he was told that at the time.

"I don't think it's a big surprise to him."

Hoddle disclosed details of Paul Gascoigne's reaction to being omitted from the England squad yesterday and Hodgson added: "Considering all the other things which have been said, I think Chris Sutton comes out of it rather better than say Paul Gascoigne. "But the only people who get any good out of all this are those who want to make moronic chants away from home."

Hoddle has made it clear in his book that he will not be calling on Sutton for the qualifying games for the European Championships.

"I don't think anybody should turn down the chance of playing for their country at whatever level. If they do, they don't deserve to wear the England shirt," Hoddle says.

"I couldn't understand the point Chris was trying to prove when I asked him to play against Chile B.

"It's not a decision I have made, it's a decision Chris made for me because he chose to withdraw from the B squad in the build-up to the World Cup.

"He thought the B squad wasn't good enough for him and told me so in a telephone call. It wasn't a long conversation.

"I think his club manager Roy Hodgson tried to persuade him to change his mind but at least Chris was man enough to speak to me himself.

"I'm not angry, I'm just disappointed. He has lost out - not me.

"He was not going to start in the full match I thought it was better to show me what he could do at that level rather than sit on the bench. "He should take a look at Paul Merson who was brilliant against Chile B and did himself a lot of good. I was looking for the same from Chris but never got it.

"My own 53 caps taught me that almost every player wants to play for their country as often as possible."

Sutton himself has insisted he would still like to play for England again but accepted some time ago it was a non-starter under Hoddle.

When the row first blew up he told us: "I have never said I don't want to play for England.

"I still want to play for my country. But I think it is hardly likely to happen. There doesn't seem to be any chance to me."

So Hoddle's latest 'revelations' are unlikely to affect Sutton's preparations for the new season when he will hope to be challenging for the position of top Premiership scorer again.

Middlesbrough boss Bryan Robson has slammed Glenn Hoddle for revealing details of his clashes with Gascoigne in the run-up to the World Cup.

Robson branded Hoddle's revelations "pathetic" and added: "There are too many people living off the back of Gazza's reputation."

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