Hoddle defends Ian Wright

Glenn Hoddle yesterday stood up for Ian Wright by claiming the Arsenal hitman was the victim of his own reputation.

Hoddle accused Wright's critics of "hammering" him following the incidents at Leicester on Wednesday which have seen him put in the FA dock once again.

And the England coach said he had no hesitation in naming the 33-year-old striker in his squad for next month's World Cup clash with Moldova, hinting that Wright will lead the line at Wembley.

Hoddle suggested he could see nothing seriously wrong in Wright's actions and that the player was "picked on".

"I've studied the video from three different angles and personally I can't see much of a case there," said Hoddle, with words that seem sure to undermine the disciplinary case against Wright, Patrick Vieira and Steve Walsh.

"He's playing extremely well. Too many people have jumped on the bandwagon pretty quickly. He's probably in the best form of anybody in the Premiership. To leave him out would've been very unprofessional and very foolish."

And he maintained that Wright's efforts to control his temper were working, adding: "There are signs that he's addressing things. He was provoked in many ways on Wednesday, but came off in a very controlled manner. He is learning and he's trying to change."

Were Wright to receive the 12-match ban that has been suggested, Hoddle would face a major crisis for October's crunch game in Italy, with Alan Shearer ruled out.

But Hoddle said: "I'm not going to worry about that yet. All I can say is that, from what I saw happened, I wouldn't have been justified in leaving him out of this squad."

England (Squad): Seaman (Arsenal), Walker (Spurs), Martyn (Leeds), G Neville (Man Utd), Southgate (Aston Villa), Pallister (Man Utd), R Ferdinand (West Ham), Campbell (Tottenham), Le Saux (Chelsea), P Neville (Man Utd), Batty (Newcastle), Butt (Man Utd), Beckham (Man Utd), Gascoigne (Rangers), Scholes (Man Utd), Lee (Newcastle), Ripley (Blackburn), Sheringham (Man Utd), L Ferdinand (Tottenham), Wright (Arsenal), Collymore (Aston Villa), Heskey (Leicester), plus one player to be added after this weekend.