Roy Hodgson is hoping that the addition of Dave Reddin to The FA’s staff can help his players on a psychological level as preparations begin for next summer’s World Cup.
Reddin will begin his role as Head Of Performance Services early next year after huge success in his previous jobs in sports science and psychology.
He was part of the England Rugby squad which lifted the World Cup in Australia in 2003, receiving glowing praise from coach Sir Clive Woodward who claims he was one of the ‘main reasons’ for England’s victory.
Reddin was then part of the British Olympic Associastion’s staff at last year’s Games in London, where Great Britain finished third in the medal table.
And Hodgson is hoping that he can now help his squad to deal with the pressures of performing in a major international tournament and the situations which come with that, such as penalty shoot-outs.
He said: "Dave Reddin is one of the best guys around for helping with that.
"He has worked with rugby and a large part of their game is the penalty, like with the Jonny Wilkinson episode which won us the World Cup.
“Dave Reddin is one of the best guys around.”
Roy Hodgson England Manager
"I can't say that the mental side of things played no part in our defeat on penalties (in Euro 2012), I think it plays a major part in football full stop.
"Football is a thinking game. It's decisions, decisions, decisions.
"Midfielders and strikers might only get 50 or 20 touches a game, so there is an awful lot of thinking and concentration that goes on."
Hodgson will meet with his latest squad at St. George’s Park on Tuesday, as they prepare for games at Wembley with Chile and Germany over the next 10 days.
Meanwhile, tickets for the Chile game are still available to purchase.
Ticket Prices: £25, £30, £35, £40 (Family Enclosure - £20 Adults/£10 Children U16)
Public sale: Tuesday 22 October from 12 noon
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General public disabled sale – Tuesday 22 October from 12noon
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