Southgate: There’s no Roo-m for sentiment
GARETH SOUTHGATE yesterday told his players they can be the best in the world – but they are doing it without Wayne Rooney.
The striker was invited but missed the England players’ meeting at St George’s Park because he was having treatment on an injury at Man United’s training ground.
Three Lions captain Rooney was also not in the new promotional pictures of England’s new blue third away kit which were released yesterday by the FA.
Stoke keeper Jack Butland did attend the get-together despite being out injured and Rooney’s absence could be seen as another clear sign he is on his way out.
England boss Southgate, who last week offered no guarantees on Rooney’s future, delivered a rabble-rousing speech including recent highlights and lowlights, including his own penalty heartache against Germany in Euro 96.
Leicester striker Jamie Vardy said: “The penalty was on there, yes. He didn’t go into much detail but he wanted it to be on there to show how far he has come as well. Obviously him being in that situation to have his knowledge of that can benefit us quite a lot.”
Southampton’s new call-up James Ward-Prowse said: “It was a very powerful message. We want to be a top team in the world. So it is about plugging away at those goals.” CHARLIE MULGREW feels he is better prepared for Scotland duty after seven months at the bottom with Blackburn rather than seven years at the top with Celtic.
The 27-year-old swapped the Champions League for the Championship in the summer after moving to Lancashire and says he has also improved as a player.
Mulgrew puts that down to the demands of the notoriously tough second tier south of the border where Rovers remain in the dropzone despite a six-game unbeaten run under Tony Mowbray who replaced Owen Coyle at Ewood Park.
He has found the Championship tougher than the Scottish Premiership where Celtic were always the dominant side and hopes Scotland can benefit from his new lease of life in England.
Mulgrew was a late call-up for the last World Cup qualifier against England but wasn’t needed and sat in the stand at Wembley.
But he hopes to play a part this week with tomorrow’s friendly against Canada a warm-up for Sunday’s crucial clash with Slovenia at Hampden. Central defence has become a problem area for Gordon Strachan who has lost Grant Hanley from the squad through injury but versatile Mulgrew has enjoyed a run in that position in recent weeks.
As the 24-cap former Celt eyes his first competitive appearance for his country since the 3-2 home defeat to Germany 18 months ago when Slovenia come to Glasgow, Mulgrew says he’s in his best shape.
The former Wolves man said: “I’m really enjoying it at Blackburn and I feel more prepared now and that I’m a better and more experienced player.
“It’s a more demanding league. Every game is genuinely 50-50 and I feel I’ve improved since I’ve been at Blackburn. It’s opened my eyes a bit. While I’ve been down south before, I hadn’t played as much in the Championship as I have recently.
“A lot of the games are more even down there and that was part of the challenge why I wanted to go down. I wanted to be part of that, experience that and grow.
“You have a lot of the ball at Celtic, in most games you’ve got at least 60 to 70 per cent possession, so it’s different.
“At Blackburn there is more defending
I feel as if I have improved since I have been at Blackburn MULGREW
to be done and I’m enjoying it. We’re undefeated in seven games but we need to get more wins. It’s a funny league, anybody can beat anybody.
“Newcastle and maybe Huddersfield, despite taking six points and two points from them respectively, are the two teams I’ve looked at and thought they are very good sides.
“At the time a lot of people thought it wasn’t the right move but it was me that wanted to do it. I wanted to experience something different. At this stage of my career it was probably my last chance to go down south and I wanted that.
“Off the field everything has been great, on the field it’s been difficult with picking up results but I have never regretted my decision. I’m enjoying the challenge, I’m enjoying playing different teams at big stadiums.
“We’ve also picked up recently. There are a lot of off-field headlines but it doesn’t really affect us. Our main focus is the football side of things, the manager being right, training being right and preparation for games is top notch.
“I’ve played maybe twice in midfield, one against Manchester United, but I’ve played mostly in the centre of defence this season and I spoke to the manager about that because he likes to play football from the back and that suits me.
“I said to him I’m happy wherever I’m needed but that I probably prefer centre-half, or midfield, but he’s happy with me at centre-back at the moment.”
Mulgrew reckons criticism of Scotland’s central defence in particular is unfair with six goals conceded in the last two qualifiers and said: “When you concede goals or things don’t go right it’s easy to point to the centre-backs.
“But as a team you defend and attack. We all take responsibility for that. Slovenia is a big game for us and we want to win it.
“We realise it’s important but if we can win it we’ll be in a good position and that is our main focus.
“I have played in different positions for Scotland. I’ve been down on the squad list as a defender and played midfield. I’m just looking to do my best in training and will be happy wherever the manager wants to put me in.
“I feel like I can play in a couple of positions but the main thing is the team wins. Liam Cooper has been brought in. He’s looked good for Leeds and been in the squad a couple of times.
“I was called up late for the England game as there were a couple of knocks but