New England manager Sam Allardyce has refused to rule out the possibility of offering John Terry a return to the international set-up.

The former Three Lions captain has not represented his country since September 2012, with his most recent appearance coming in a 5-0 victory over Moldova during qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.

The Chelsea defender announced his retirement from international football following that match but Allardyce, who succeeded Roy Hodgson at the helm this summer, admits he would consider holding talks with the 35-year-old over a possible return to the team.

Asked if Terry could be considered for England selection once again, Allardyce said: “I don’t know what the political side of that might mean, if there is a political side.

I’ll have to have that conversation if I feel that John Terry may be a possibility.

“I think it depends on what John said. Maybe if I get the opportunity, I might have to give him a ring.

But until I come to that selection or that process, we’ll wait and see.”

The former Sunderland boss will announce his first England squad on Sunday, with the Three Lions set to take on Slovakia in Trnava on September 4 in their first qualifying match for the 2018 World Cup.

England will also face Scotland, Slovenia, Lithuania and Malta during the qualification process and they are available at 1.36 to finish top of the group and secure an automatic place at the finals in Russia in two years’ time.