Roy Hodgson has not ruled out the prospect of a shock international recall for John Terry after accepting he has a problem in his England defence.

The England manager recognises he does not have a centre half with a preference for playing on the left side of a central pair and accepts the Chelsea captain, 35, would be ‘a valid’ option.

Although it would be a controversial selection, Sportsmail understands there would not be an objection from the FA hierarchy, despite the governing body’s history with the England skipper.

Roy Hodgson has refused to rule out a return to the England squad for Chelsea captain John Terry

Terry, who has 78 England caps, retired from from international football back in 2012

England boss Hodgson admits there is an issue over a lack of left-sided central defenders

JOHN TERRY: CAREER HONOURS Champions League x 1 (2012) Europa League x 1 (2013) Premier League x 4 (2005, 2006, 2010, 2015) FA Cup x 5 (2000, 2007, 2010, 2009, 2012) League Cup x 3 (2005, 2007, 2015) Advertisement

Hodgson said that until the suggestion was put to him on Tuesday night he had not given it a great deal of thought and may yet decide to stick with the defenders who are available for the European Championship in France this summer.

But he did reveal he had only recently had a lengthy conversation with Terry, who retired from international football in September 2012 upset by the FA’s decision to suspend him after a court had cleared him of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand.

‘There are, in my opinion, no left-sided centre backs who are English playing in the league who are at least at the level of the ones we are choosing,’ said Hodgson. ‘That’s a fact of life and there’s not much we can do about it.’

Which prompted someone to make the left-field suggestion of Terry. ‘Yes, who knows?’ responded Hodgson, laughing at first but quickly employing a more serious tone. ‘I’m not 100 per cent outside of John Terry. Because he retired so long ago, he doesn’t feature in my thinking too often. But I can’t deny that is a valid point. He is a left-sided centre half, although not a left-sided player. He’s right-footed.’

Hodgson also said he had spoken to Terry. ‘I had a long chat with John the other day,’ he said. ‘He’s a very nice guy.’

Terry, who has spent this international break in China and Dubai, would need persuading by Hodgson to return given the circumstances of his retirement.

While England have been preparing for the Euros, Chelsea skipper Terry has been on his holidays

Terry enjoy time away from football with his wife Toni outside the Atlantis, The Palm hotel in Dubai

Terry was twice stripped of the England captaincy during his nine-year international career

He is still hurt after being twice stripped of the captaincy during his turbulent 78-cap career. He had hoped to join the 100-cap club before retiring aged 31.

After making his England debut in 2003, Terry was named captain by Steve McClaren after the 2006 World Cup.

McClaren’s successor, Fabio Capello, stripped Terry of the captaincy in 2010 following allegations about his private life, only to re-instate the defender in 2011.

Terry, now 35, was an ever-present as he led Chelsea to the Premier League title last season

Terry would need some convincing by Hodgson should he decide to invite the defender back into the fold

Terry considers the FAs treatment of him to be unjust after they banned him for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand even tough he was cleared by a court

However, with Terry facing trial over allegations of racial abuse, the FA removed him from the role in February 2012 — a move which prompted the resignation of Capello.

Terry, who scored six goals for England, won his last cap against Moldova in September 2012.