The Edgeley Park playmaker's name was conspicuous by its absence last week when England's Test and Saxons squads were unveiled for their respective summer campaigns.
Whilst five of his Sale colleagues - Mark Cueto, Mathew Tait, Richard Wigglesworth, Dean Schofield and Chris Jones - were all rewarded for fine personal campaigns at club level, Hodgson was again overlooked despite being voted Sale's player of the year for the second successive year.
The fly-half's omission has led some observers to speculate whether it marks the end of the 28-year old's international career. However, England team manager Johnson - who has yet to select Hodgson following his axing from the World Cup winning captain's inaugural England Elite Squad last summer - insists that no-one has been ruled out of his plans.
Johnno's plans for the summer were also hit yesterday when David Strettle's injury jinx struck again. A stomach problem has now ruled him out of the two-Test series against Argentina.
Bath winger Matt Banahan has been promoted from the Saxons to replace the former Lymm ace ahead of Saturday's clash with the Pumas at Old Trafford when Sale's Mark Cueto and David Tait are likely to play
Johnson remains flexible and said: "If guys have got the ambition and they are playing well enough to play Test match rugby the door is always open.
"The thing is to play well both in the Premiership and in Europe for your club as that's how you get back into the side.
"That's what Sale's Cueto has done.
"As far as I'm concerned if the guys are willing to achieve then as far as we are concerned the door is always open for them."
Johnson also had words of encouragement for Schofield, who since making his England debut two years ago, hasn't had a look-in at international level. However, a superb domestic campaign for Sale has seen the 30-year-old become the club's skipper for next season.
And after being named, along with Edgeley Park colleague Jones, in the England Saxons squad for their defence of the Churchill Cup in Denver next month, Johnson hailed Schofield's commitment.
He said: "I think he's had a pretty decent year along with a number of guys and that's what they want and what we want. We want guys who are playing well and forcing their way into teams."
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