England hire shrink to the stars for Brazil World Cup aid
ENGLAND manager Roy Hodgson yesterday unveiled psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters as his first pick for the World Cup in Brazil and hopes his influence can see the team maximise their potential this summer.
Peters, who has worked with Britain’s supremely successful track cycling squad at the last two Olympic Games, has been tasked with ensuring England’s players can cope with the inevitable pressure situations that occur at a World Cup.
Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard has worked with Peters for three years and credits him for the “most consistent” period of form during his career.
And while Hodgson, whose team host Denmark at Wembley tonight, concedes even Peters cannot guarantee a 100 per cent success rate when it comes to dreaded penalty shootouts, he believes England will have a greater chance of glory with the psychiatrist on board.
“We’ve now got the opportunity to use one of the best men in his field,” said Hodgson. “I understand people will think ‘England can’t score a penalty so Steve Peters will make sure we get five out of five’. That will be very tough, because he won’t be able to help us do that.
“But what he might be able to help us do is to make certain the players are better prepared for any challenge in front of them, penalty shootouts may be one, but there are also many minutes of football to be played, so we want help in that area as well.”
Right-back Kyle Walker withdrew from the squad yesterday due to a groin injury which has kept him out of Tottenham’s last four matches, so Glen Johnson is set to earn his 50th England cap.
Hodgson has revealed Everton left-back Leighton Baines will not feature, leaving veteran Ashley Cole and debutant Luke Shaw to contest the No3 shirt and, most likely, a solitary seat on the plane to Brazil.
“We brought Luke Shaw here because his performances merited it and it would be nice to get him on the field,” Hodgson added. “It’s the right moment to look at one of, or both, Luke and Ashley.
“Unless we get an incredible number of injuries Leighton won’t feature.”
Spurs boss Tim Sherwood revealed after Sunday’s victory over Cardiff that midfielder Christian Eriksen would be unavailable to feature for Denmark due to a back injury.
But national team coach Morten Olsen plans to give the 22-year-old a late fitness test, though will only use him if “100 per cent fit”.
WHY SPORT’S GREATS LOVE DR STEVE PETERS
Who is he?
Dr Steve Peters (pictured, right) is a consultant psychiatrist working in elite sport. He began work as a forensic psychiatrist at Rampton Secure Hospital, then became a senior clinical lecturer at Sheffield University in 1994. Now works alongside several British sports teams and athletes.
Notable clients
Is credited with helping Team GB’s track cycling squad at the past two Olympic Games and currently visits Liverpool FC once a week. Peters also worked with England’s rugby union team at the 2007 World Cup. Individuals including Ronnie O’Sullivan and Steven Gerrard have had one-to-one sessions.
What they said
“If I could afford to have Steve 24/7 then I would. Steve has been a gem for me” – Ronnie O’Sullivan, five-time snooker world champion
“Steve Peters is the most important person in my career” – Victoria Pendleton, double Olympic cycling champion
“Thank you Steve Peters for opening my eyes on how to approach my worries and fears and for simply being the world expert on common sense – Sir Bradley Wiggins, Britain’s first Tour de France champion
The Chimp Paradox
Peters’ book explains how the human mind operates and introduces his management programme to control the irrational and emotional “chimp” component of your brain.