Hodgson Relays Parker Fitness Fears

England manager Roy Hodgson says midfielder Scott Parker will be fit to face Belgium in the final warm-up game before the European Championships despite fears over a troublesome Achillies injury.

The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder comes into the tournament with limited game time of late, having missed his side's last four games of the season due to injury.

After both Gareth Barry and Frank Lampard were ruled out of Euro 2012 with respective abdominal and thigh injuries, doubts emerged over Parker's own fitness, however Hodgson is confident the 31-year-old will be fit come the group phase.

"We got the full contingent now and everyone trained, no problems," he said. "There's just the sad news we had to deal with yesterday when Frank (Lampard) was injured. It is good Jordan (Henderson) has been able to come in and join us but to see Frank leave the group was a sad moment.

"All muscle tears can be close but there are very few that clear up in less than two weeks. There was no chance I could take a risk again with Frank because there could have been the possibility he could not have played in the first two games and possibly the third.

"He [Parker] has taken part in every training session and only the first one was less like a full training session. He is available to play tomorrow. He is getting fitter by the day and we are happy that by the time we play France people will be in good physical shape."

In the absence of Lampard, Hodgson's midfield predicament has been emphasised by the call-up of Jordan Henderson, who despite making 31 Premier League starts in his first season at Liverpool has endured a difficult campaign.

However, with alternatives are few and far between, the clamour for Michael Carrick's return into the England fold has swelled despite the Manchester United midfielder ruling himself out of contention, should he be required as a back-up player.

Hodgson admits while he admires the 30-year-old, he has no intension of calling him into the 23-man squad.

"The contacts with Michael were conducted before I took the job," he said. "It was made clear to me he was not a player who wanted to be considered so he wasn't a player I considered. Michael is a player I have always admired and who knows in the future?"