Arsenal legend Ian Wright insists Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand must be recalled by England coach Roy Hodgson.

Wright wrote in The Sun: "I will lose some respect for the manager if he fails to include Rio Ferdinand for the two matches in San Marino and Montenegro.

"The situation is ridiculous and I'm going to keep banging the Rio drum until four of five class centre-halves drop out of the air and land on Hodgson.

"The chances of this happening are unlikely, so Rio has to be included.

"It will be a complete joke if he is not picked."