GLENN HODDLE has invited Paul Gascoigne to join him on the road to the Caucasus in the hope that he can set the player on the straight and narrow.

Hoddle's decision to retain Gascoigne in the England squad after newspaper allegations of wife beating is worryingly paved with good intentions. For the moment, however, Gascoigne is heading nowhere more hellish than Tblisi, where England meet Georgia in a World Cup qualifier a week today.

Yesterday Hoddle defended his retention of Gascoigne, which will intensify the wrath of women's groups and others who were demanding that the player be dropped, on the grounds that leaving him out would have been too easy an option. He had decided to keep him in, he explained, after several Ing talks with the player and had also sat in on one of the counselling sessions Gascoigne has undertaken.

"I believe I now have a clear understanding, of the problems he and his family are experiencing," Hoddle said. "I have been deeply impressed by his determination to address his problems, and the progress he has already made. I believe that with my help, and that of counselling, we can guide and help both him and his family to go further.

"At no time have I, or would I, condone what Paul has done," Hoddle continued. "I expect high standards. I also accept that people are human. Paul knows he has to change in the long term. My aim is to do nothing in the short term that might turn out to be unhelpful in the future."

Hoddle set out his case in a prepared statement and was backed by a similar joint statement from the chairman of the English A, Keith Wiseman, and its chief executive, Graham Kelly. When pressed to expand on his comments he stuck to the party line.

"I think we all know Paul needed some sort of help," he explained. And he will need it long after the Georgia game. Only time will tell whether people will be able to help him. It's going to be down to Paul.

"But you can't cast him aside. I just want him to be given an opportunity similar to the one Paul Merson has had." Both Merson, who has had rehabilitation treatment for drink, drug and gambling problems, and Tony Adams.

This Arsenal captain who recently admitted to being an alcoholic, are in the squad for Tblisi.

"Paul Gascoigne has many problems," said Hoddle. "It's not just about getting over this one. I'm trying to give him the opportunity to learn from the mistakes he has made. I've already seen a change in him. He knows he's got to change."

Hoddle refused to be specific about Gascoigne's domestic difficulties. "Much of what I have learnt has to remain private, he said. "I'm aware of much that is not, and should not, be public knowledge." Asked about Gascoigne's drinking, he admitted that "there is a slight problem there" but did not consider it a major issue.

Some have expressed the view that as a practising Christian Hoddle should have had no truck with an alleged wife batterer. Hoddle's response to this yesterday was that Jesus taught forgiveness and that people could change. Saul was one, he added.

At the moment the link between the Pauls of Tarsus and Gateshead seems a mite tenuous but of all the England managers and coaches who have had to cope with Gascoigne's waywardness, Hoddle had shown a rare sensitivity. Whether it will mean anything in the long ion Gazza only knows.

England have, after all, been this way before. Graham Taylor called upon the Almighty to look after Gascoigne but his plea went unanswered. Later Taylor made an oblique reference to Gascoigne's "refuelling habits" and reaped a whirlwind.

Proper match fitness is fundamental to the debate about Gascoigne's future as an international footaller, and a lack of it is what may undo him in the end. Hoddle is aware of this: "You have to get your body right and look after yourself when you are 29 or 30 and so was Taylor: "There comes a time when you have to take responsibility for yourself. You can't allow your fitness to go," and when Tayloi said that Gascoigne was 25.

During the coming week the Gascoigne debate will concern the likelihood of Hoddle in him in the England team. Rightly or wrongly, Hoddle is less likely to drop him now than he would have, been a fortnight ago.

With Alan Shearer and Gary Pallister recovering from operations, Adam may well return as centre half and captain.