Euro 2012: Scott Parker's on track to make the finals

 
24 May 2012

Scott Parker handed England a major fitness boost today after taking part in England’s first open training session under Roy Hodgson.

The England squad gathered in Manchester yesterday for a private session in which Parker took part and then stepped up his involvement in front of the assembled media at the Etihad Stadium this morning.

The Tottenham midfielder could now play some part in Saturday’s friendly against Norway in Oslo providing he suffers no adverse reaction having suffered an Achilles problem for the final few weeks of the Premier League season.

Hodgson had admitted he was uncertain whether Parker would be able to travel to Poland and Ukraine but will be relieved it now appears certain the 31-year-old will be part of the 23-man squad.

Glen Johnson limped out of the session with an infected toe but it is not thought to be serious and the Liverpool defender will continue with gym work while the problem heals.

England were without Wayne Rooney, who has been on holiday in Las Vegas, and the Chelsea contingent following their exertions at the Champions League Final last Saturday.

John Terry, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and Daniel Sturridge will all join up with the squad next Tuesday along with Rooney. With Terry and Cahill absent, Gary Neville was asked to play at centre-back in an 11-a-side training game this morning.

The former Manchester United defender recently joined Hodgson’s backroom staff and was a vocal presence throughout the session, bathed in the Manchester sunshine. England were watched by Great Britain’s Paralympic football team after receiving an invitation from the Football Association.

Hodgson’s squad will fly to the Norwegian capital tomorrow ahead of Saturday’s friendly and will return to their usual training base at the Grove next week.

They will then play Belgium in their final warm-up match before their Euro 2012 opener against France on June 11.

Danny Welbeck sat out the practice match as a precaution as he continues his recovery from a badly bruised leg sustained in United’s League match against Manchester City.

Welbeck resumed running last week and is on course to be fit for the Euro finals.

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