Birmingham keeper Jack Butland is in contention with Norwich’s John Ruddy for the vacant spot.

While both keepers would usually be given a chance to impress in a normal friendly, both teams have been limited to six substitutes apiece so Hodgson revealed he may have to be more frugal with his selections.

When asked who would start in goal, Hodgson told a press conference: “I can’t say that because I haven’t actually spoken to the players.

“I haven’t even given them an indication of who is playing unless they try to read my mind during the training sessions and see how people line up there.

“As far as Jack and John, they’re pretty much neck and neck for a place in the team and I’m still to decide whether I just choose one or whether possibly we have enough substitutes to enable me to give each of them a game.

“And that wouldn’t be wrong and if we didn’t have the restrictions on substitutes I could tell you now.

“But I have to be a little more careful when you can only use six.

“I’m quite anxious we give quite a lot of the players the chance to get on the field and play but we’re only allowed six substitutes so in actual fact 19 players is still more than enough.

“We’ll still have more substitutes than we’re allowed.”

Theo Walcott pulled out of the squad earlier today due to a thigh problem, which Hodgson revealed he picked up in Arsenal's friendly against Cologne.

However, Hodgson boss hopes the forward will recover from the knock in time for the Gunners’ opening Barclays Premier League encounter against Sunderland on Saturday.

“Theo took a kick on his thigh rather badly and we were rather hoping a couple of days would see him right again but unfortunately given the recovery time, we’ve had to leave him at Arsenal’s training ground,” Hodgson added.

“Hopefully he can recover in time for Saturday’s game.

“I don’t think it’s a serious injury but it’s a kick that takes one or two days to recover from.”