England manager Roy Hodgson has claimed that Jack Rodwell will find it difficult to cement a place in Manchester City's starting lineup.

Rodwell joined the Premier League champions from Everton on Sunday but Hodgson believes that the midfielder could be left frustrated at the Etihad Staidum.

Hodgson said: "Jack Rodwell has just gone to Manchester City. If you look at their midfield I don't know how many starts he's going to get there."

The England boss also admitted that transfers such as Rodwell's will force him to defend his selection policy on a regular basis this season.

"I fear quite often I'll be sitting here answering why I'm choosing players who aren't getting games for their clubs. That's a risk, but it's the nature of the Premier League and so few English players in the league, many of them playing for the same club," he added.

Rodwell has been included in the England squad for tomorrow's match against Italy in Berne.