Disgraced England star apologizes after nightclub binge

LONDON, June 6 (AFP)

A repentant Teddy Sheringham issued a public apology Saturday after a nightclub binge that angered England coach Glenn Hoddle and threatened the star strikers World Cup place. The Manchester United forward was captured on camera drinking until dawn in a Portuguese holiday resort despite a ban on late-night partying in the run-up to the World Cup. A subdued Sheringham, reading from a prepared statement, said he was sorry and hoped to put the incident behind him. "I want to apologise for the problems my actions have caused to my team-mates, to the England coach and his staff, to my parents and to my son. Id also like to apologise for not taking Glenn Hoddles advice in every detail on how I acted over the period I was in Portugal. " Speaking at Englands pre-World Cup training centre at Bisham Abbey, Sheringham added: "Ive played 33 times for England and been very proud to do so. I care about what I do and I want to continue playing for England. I have explained what happened in Portugal to Glenn Hoddle. I now want to put this matter behind me and the England team as quickly as possible. I intend to learn from the experience. Hoddle, who drummed star player Paul Gascoigne out of the squad following a similar lapse, gave Sheringham a sharp dressing down ahead of the players apology. But he resisted calls for Sheringhams head, though had the players form suffered as a result of the binge, the outcome may have been different. "I have watched him very closely in training the last couple of days and it hasnt affected him at all," said Hoddle. "He knew he needed to stand up and be counted in training. Thats been done and hes taken it in his stride."  Hoddle said Sheringhams chances of playing in Englands World Cup opener against Tunisia in Marseilles had not been affected. "I will pick the side when I need to," said the coach. "I will do it on the basis of what I see in the next few days leading up to June 15." Hoddle sought to draw a distinction between the case of Gascoigne and Sheringham. Gascoigne, caught out on the town and given a warning about his conduct three weeks ago, was left out of the squad. "This is unlike the Paul Gascoigne case," he said. "Im sure people will say they are being treated differently but with Paul it wasnt a case of a drinking situation but about his fitness. " Under FIFA rules players named in the initial squads of 22 can only be changed in the case of injury.

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