Roy Hodgson frets after Premier League's fixture snub for England World Cup qualifiers

The Premier League has denied a request by Roy Hodgson for no high-profile matches to be played before England’s crucial World Cup qualifying double-header in September, Telegraph Sport has learnt.

The England manager was part of a Football Association delegation who lobbied the League to ensure the third weekend of next season’s top-flight fixtures on Aug 31-Sept 2 contained games unlikely to be selected by Sky Sports for broadcast on the Sunday or Monday night.

The Premier League agreed to consider the request – which it also does when clubs make representations over fixtures – but the FA’s pleas had little or no effect on the list published on Wednesday morning.

That weekend contains two of the biggest fixtures in the calendar, with Liverpool hosting Manchester United on top of the first north London derby of the season, both bitterly contested games involving a large number of England players.

It is highly likely at least one of those matches will be chosen by Sky for broadcast on the Sunday or Monday night as part of its new £2.2 billion television deal.

That would represent a blow for Hodgson, who wants to ensure the best possible preparation for World Cup qualifiers which could prove decisive in England’s attempt to reach next year’s finals. They host Moldova on Friday, Sept 6, before playing Ukraine in Kiev four days later.