Milner: Learning under Hodgson

Manchester City midfielder Milner is hoping to be included for his country's Euro 2012 opener against France after starting Saturday's 1-0 victory over Belgium.

The 26-year-old is the only member of Hodgson's 23-man squad to have played every minute of the new manager's first two games in charge but was taking nothing for granted ahead of the June 11 Group D clash in Ukraine.

"That's the manager's decision and hopefully I'm in the team," said Milner, who shrugged off the unconvincing nature of England's wins over Norway and Belgium, with Hodgson having only begun working with his squad a week and a half ago.

"We haven't been together for too long with the new manager, so we're still working on things in training.

"We're all learning the way that the manager wants us to play, and the more we play together and train together over these next days before that first game, the better we'll get and the more compact we'll be, and we'll put the ideas of the manager into practice.

"We can improve with the ball but I think that'll come with time together.

"So, I think it's a positive start to get two wins from two tough games going into the tournament and we'll go into the first game against a strong team in confident mood."

That confidence would be dented if there is more bad news today on the injury front, with the Football Association expected to confirm whether centre-back pair Gary Cahill and John Terry were the latest casualties of Hodgson's fledgling reign.

Cahill was forced to undergo an x-ray on a possible fractured cheekbone after being forced off at Wembley yesterday, while Terry suffered a hamstring strain.

"We've had a few niggles and it just seems to be that bad luck that we're having at the moment," said Milner after what was a physical game England arguably could have done without.

Yet, the midfielder refused to condemn Belgium's Dries Mertens for the unnecessary push on Cahill which led to the defender colliding with Joe Hart.

"The disappointing one was Gaz Cahill," Milner added.

"The lad pushed him, didn't really need to do it. I don't think he meant to injure him.

"I think he was going for the ball and just tried to maybe get away with one and nick a goal and gave him a little shove."