‘Fans want to thank Wayne’
only start from the bench, so would not be wearing his usual No10 shirt.
And although the 33-year-old would not officially be named captain when he came on, Southgate could not vouch for the reaction of the players on the pitch at the time.
“The last game he played with me, when he came on, Jordan Henderson gave him the armband straight away,” the manager recalled. “There was that respect for him.
“I have no issue with that at all. It is up to the players on the pitch at the time.”
Southgate said it was up to Rooney himself to make his farewell bow a roaring success in the manner of former England cricket captain Alastair Cook, who scored a century in his final innings in September.
“If Wayne can smash one in from 25 yards then we will all go home very happy,” Southgate said. “That’s over to him.
“I know the England supporters club and those that travel would feel they want to thank Wayne. They have seen all the games he has played in and seen all the goals he has scored in the most remote parts of Europe that got us to most major finals. I know in particular they will want to thank him for that.”
While few begrudge Rooney – whose unsurpassed tally of 53 England goals has come in 119 international appearances – some sort of recognition, there is a strong sense that handing him game time as a grace-andfavour honour cheapens the notion of playing for your country.
Furthermore, with Southgate admitting he would be playing a much-changed team three days before the match against Croatia which will decide England’s Nations League fate, it again called into question the relevance in the modern game of international friendlies.
“I played when Sven-Goran Eriksson was making 11 substitutions and this debate was happening 15, 20 years ago,” Southgate said.
“The Nations League matches have added another dynamic because everyone can see the value of having those competitive games. It won’t be an entirely experimental team, in that we’ve got some good players playing for us and some experienced internationals.
“We want the balance that young players who go in have good support around them.”
Rooney will be joined at St George’s Park by Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson, who comes into the squad for the first time as one of 28 names in all called up by Southgate.
Jadon Sancho retains his place but injuries mean that Mason Mount and James Maddison will miss out.