Rooney’s hopes diminish
Man United career could also be over
London – Wayne Rooney’s international career looks over after England’s all-time top scorer was left out of the squad for next month’s World Cup qualifier against Scotland and a friendly in France.
The 31-year-old striker has lost his place at Manchester United and was similarly omitted from Gareth Southgate’s England squad announced in March, although he was carrying a knee injury at the time.
Fit-again Rooney, who made a brief appearance in Manchester United’s Europa League final win over Ajax in Stockholm on Wednesday, had hoped to end his international career by captaining England at next year’s World Cup in Russia.
But this now looks an increasingly forlorn hope for Rooney, England’s record goal scorer with 53 goals and their most capped outfielder with 119 appearances for his country.
His United career could also be over having fallen down the pecking order under manager Jose Mourinho.
“We have a lot of players playing exceptionally well in the area of the pitch that Wayne plays,” Southgate said.
“I said last time [in March] that he was a bit short of matches – he’s had some matches now but we’ve got players that have done really, really well for us in Adam Lallana and Dele Alli.
“I can’t dress it up any other way – other players are in really good form and deserve to keep their place.”
Southgate did not rule out entirely a recall for Rooney, who is three years younger than veteran striker Jermain Defoe, who has been retained despite Sunderland’s desperate season seeing them relegated.
The announcement of the squad yesterday saw Southgate opt for the likes of Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford and Defoe in attack.
The 19-year-old Rashford, who started for United against Ajax, has inherited the mantle of “teen sensation” that used to belong to Rooney and his inclusion in the squad means he will not feature for the under-21s in this year’s age-group European Championships. –