Former Tottenham Hotspur manager David Pleat believes that Rio Ferdinand does not have a "divine right" to be included in the England squad.

The Manchester United defender's agent Jaime Moralee released a statement condemning Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson for not calling up Ferdinand following Gary Cahill's omission.

"I think the agent of Ferdinand is really out of order," Pleat told BBC Radio Five Live. "I think agents of other players could equally make a case from time to time. Micah Richards evidently has had a very good season and he's been shunned, so to speak.

"Nobody has a divine right to play in the side, I think some of the headlines are very dramatic. Yes Ferdinand is 33, he's played around 30 games or so this season, and he has done well since January, but he's (Hodgson) got a natural attacker of the ball in John Terry.

"I think it's for footballing reasons and Roy has got four players now who can cover at centre-back. I think a right footer and a left footer in Terry and Lescott is a decent combination."

Meanwhile, Liverpool defender Martin Kelly has been pulled into the national squad to replace the Chelsea centre-back.