Roy takes World Cup mind games to new level

England manager Roy Hodgson has named Dr Steven Peters as the psychologist he has entrusted to work with his squad — as captain Steven Gerrard praised him as the man he feels has allowed him to play his best football.

Peters has been working closely with Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool side of recent times but Gerrard has used his methods for a longer period.

Now Hodgson will turn to Peters’ specialist skills to help his players while they are away from home and attempting to deal with the pressures of representing their country in a World Cup.

With Dr Peters having a background in sport, Hodgson is happy to have brought in a man he hopes will fill the role perfectly.

“It is not just any psychologist,” he said. “It is Dr Steve Peters who is a very famous man in that area.

“It is something we have spoken about for some time but we wanted to get the right man — luckily Brendan allowed me to speak to Steve Peters and he has accepted our invitation so we are very pleased about that.

“We are really happy that we got the man we wanted, someone who can understand the football environment and join us rather than lecture to the players.”

It was widely anticipated Hodgson had looked to bring in a psychologist to help his players’ mind-sets in case of any penalty shoot-out scenarios in Brazil.

Gerrard was full of praise for Peters, who has also worked with British Cycling, and claimed his best performances for both club and country have come on the back of the sessions he has had.

“He has helped me an awful lot from a personal point of view,” the Liverpool skipper said. “I feel I have found my best form for England and Liverpool since seeing Steve. I have been seeing him for three years now.

“He can teach you what goes on in your head and help you with your preparation — I didn’t know what was going on in my head until I saw him.”

Gerrard, meanwhile, has challenged the squad to give Hodgson a selection headache lasting all the way to the World Cup.

Tonight’s friendly at home to Denmark will be the last chance for a player to make his mark on the international stage before Hodgson names his 23-man squad.

With 30 players being called up for the game against the Danes, it is clear Hodgson is still undecided on the exact make-up of his squad and Gerrard said now is the time for individuals to give their final push for a place on the plane to Brazil.

“It is time to start getting excited,” Gerrard said yesterday. “It will be here before we know it. It is time as a player you want to continue to impress the manager or grasp your opportunity to impress.

“That is the chance tomorrow, try and win the game and play well personally and for the team and make sure the manager doesn’t leave you out of the 23.”

For Hodgson it is a chance to have a closer look at new-boy Luke Shaw, with Steven Caulker, Ross Barkley and Raheem Sterling also looking to stake a claim.

The England boss wants a positive performance at Wembley but insists the game itself will not be the sole basis on any decisions.

“I’m looking for them to show that they take it very seriously and are anxious that I shall pick them,” said Hodgson.

“I’m not prepared to overexaggerate the importance, I’m not going to suddenly pick someone I wouldn’t have picked because he scores a goal against Denmark.

“On the same basis, I’m not going to leave anyone out who really and truly I haven’t been thinking is a key member of our team because he has a poor game tomorrow.”