Andy Cole keen to see Rio Ferdinard return to England set-up

ByDesmond Kane

Updated 25/06/2015 at 12:23 GMT

Former Manchester United forward Andy Cole has urged the Football Association to give Rio Ferdinand a role with England after the Under 21s suffered more misery at the European Championship.

Gareth Southgate's side lost 1-0 to Portugual and 3-1 to Italy with a 1-0 win over Sweden not enough to advance to the last four of the tournament in the Czech Republic.

Cole believes the retired former United and England defender Ferdinand would bring "character" to the squad despite have only recently retired as a player.

"England and the FA need bit more character... Think outside the box! Step forward @rioferdy5. Younger generation can relate to him! #respect." - Andy Cole.

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Manchester United's Andy Cole (foreground) battles with Arsenal's Tony Adams during their FA Carling premiership match at Old Trafford stadium in Manchester 17 February

Image credit: AFP

But the former QPR midfield Joey Barton believes it will take more than Ferdinand's arrival to solve England's problems on the international stage.

"The less said about England's current footballing predicament the better. Just a mess from top to bottom." - Joey Barton.

Ferdinand won 81 caps for England and was selected for four World Cup finals, playing in South Korea and Japan and Germany.

He has recently said English players are overpriced, including English youngsters Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling.

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