Last updated on .From the section Football

Rio Ferdinand should not be recalled to the national side because his "time has gone", according to former England captain Peter Shilton.

England centre-back contenders Rio Ferdinand - caps 81

Joleon Lescott - caps 23

Phil Jagielka - caps 14

Gary Cahill - caps 10

Phil Jones - caps 5

Chris Smalling - caps 3

Ryan Shawcross - caps 0

Steven Caulker - caps 0

Steven Taylor - caps 0

England coach Roy Hodgson must weigh up his defensive options after John Terry's international retirement.

Shilton, England's most-capped player, said: "I don't feel Rio should come back. We have to look to the future."

He believes Chelsea's Gary Cahill and Manchester City's Joleon Lescott should be England's centre-backs.

Ferdinand's last international appearance came in June last year, when England drew 2-2 with Switzerland in a Euro 2012 qualifier at Wembley.

The 33-year-old centre-half, who has 81 caps for his country, was not selected for the finals in Poland and Ukraine, with Hodgson citing "football reasons" for not picking the Manchester United centre-half.

Six weeks later, Terry went on trial accused of racially abusing Ferdinand's younger brother Anton during a Premier League match between QPR and Chelsea last October.

Terry, 31, was cleared at court of that charge, but this week quit international football the day before a Football Association hearing into the matter got under way, claiming his position with England had been made "untenable" as a result.

There had been speculation Terry's decision may prompt Ferdinand's return external-link to the England set-up, but Shilton thinks that would be a bad move.

The former goalkeeper, who made 1,005 league appearances in a career lasting 31 years until his retirement in 1997, said: "His time has gone. We have to look to the future and I would look to the youth.

Peter Shilton profile Played for 11 clubs over a 31-year playing career, clocking up 1,005 league appearances

Best known for spells at Leicester, Nottingham Forest, Southampton and Derby

Won two European Cups, the League title and League Cup during his time at Forest

Made his England debut in 1970. His final 125th cap came in the third-place play-off against Italy at the 1990 World Cup

"Cahill is someone I've always admired and I thought Lescott had an excellent Euros. At the moment, I'd go with those two."

Former England captain Terry won 78 caps during a nine-year international career.

He made his last appearance for his country earlier this month, when England beat Moldova 5-0 in a World Cup qualifier.

Shilton thinks Terry was one of the outstanding players at Euro 2012 and says his international retirement is "premature".

"Reading the press, I think Roy Hodgson feels the same way," said the 63-year-old. "Terry was recognised not only for his playing ability, but also for his leadership qualities."