Fulham's Hodgson: I always knew Blackburn's Ince would make top boss

boss Hodgson took charge of the Serie A giants shortly after Ince moved
from Manchester United and helped the midfielder through a difficult start to
life in Italy.

And the two men struck up such a strong bond that Hodgson wanted to take the
former England man with him when he left to take charge of in 1997.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson says he always new Paul Ince would end up a manager

The duo will be reunited at Ewood Park on Saturday when Hodgson returns to his
former club and comes face to face with Ince the manager for the first time.

Hodgson said: "I got on very well with Paul at Inter and had the utmost
respect for him.

"He was quite unhappy before I arrived and he saw my arrival as a turning
point for him.
"We had two years together and left at the same time. I left to go to
Blackburn and he went to Liverpool.

"He was very keen to come back to Blackburn with me and I would have been
pleased to take him but we couldn't afford him.

"It doesn't surprise me that he has gone into management and done well because
he has a good personality and a winning mentality.

"He knows what it takes to win and overcome difficulties.

"He did well at Inter and showed great leadership qualities which no doubt are
the skills which are serving him so well off the field.

"It will be interesting to see him as a rival coach.

But while the Cottagers' boss is adamant there will be no room for sentiment,
he admits he has been stunned to see his former player come in for criticism
after just a few weeks in charge at Blackburn.

He added: "It's a sad indictment of our game if you can't get to the end of September before a new manager is having the finger pointed at him.

"But nothing surprises me, it is something beyond our control as managers.

"It's always nice to revisit clubs and see friends you made during your time
there, but as a manager you can only be concerned with what your current team is
doing.

"There can't be any sentiment in it. I will be delighted if we can go there and win the game but I know it will be difficult."

Jimmy Bullard's late goal at Ewood Park last March earned a crucial point in Fulham's successful survival bid.

And since escaping relegation, Hodgson's side have made an outstanding start to
the campaign which suggests last season's woes are well and truly behind them.

The manager said: "Things have been taking shape for a while, maybe since
March.

"Until relegation is no longer a threat you just keep working away.

"But if people are suggesting this team is capable of doing better then we are very
pleased about that and will happily take it on board."