England will be Rooney-less when they face Scotland at Hampden -

ENGLAND: No place for striker in World Cup qualifier

Wayne Rooney’s England career moved a step closer to the end as the ex-captain was left out of Gareth Southgate’s squad to face Scotland and France next month.

Rooney made a brief cameo in Manchester United’s Europa League final win over Ajax in Stockholm on Wednesday night, but was brought back down to earth with the news he has not been included in a 25-man party that will contest a World Cup qualifier in Hampden on June 10, followed by a Paris friendly three days later.

The door is not closed on an international return for the 31-year-old, who had hoped to end his Three Lions career by leading his country in Russia next summer, but Southgate has placed him firmly behind Marcus Rashford, Jermain Defoe, Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy in the pecking order.

Elsewhere in the squad, there is a recall for goalkeeper Jack Butland, back after a year of injury trauma dating to his previous England appearance in Germany, a first call-up for Tottenham’s Kieran Trippier and nods for Ben Gibson of Middlesbrough and West Ham’s Aaron Cresswell.

It is hard to see a way back for Rooney, who is England’s record goal scorer with 53 as well as being the most capped outfield player with 119 appearances.

He has been quietly shunted down the Old Trafford pecking order this season and even a late-season return to the firstteam picture, a result of injuries and fixture congestion at United more than a compelling upturn in form, has not persuaded Southgate.

Instead he has placed his faith in 19-year-old Rashford, who started for United against Ajax, and will not now link up with the U21s for this summer’s European Championship.

Kane’s return also marks the first time Southgate has been able to select the Premier League golden boot winner, who has missed all six of the manager’s matches through injury.

The Scotland game is one of football’s great fixtures. GARETH SOUTHGATE

Southgate told thefa.com: “The Scotland game is one of football’s great fixtures.”

Former Clarets defender Trippier’s call-up comes after he ousted Kyle Walker from the Tottenham XI at the tail end of the season.

He joins his club-mate and Liverpool’s Nathaniel Clyne in challenging for the right-back slot, while Cresswell edged Arsenal’s Kieran Gibbs on the left side with Danny Rose and Luke Shaw unfit.

Gibbs’ Arsenal colleague Theo Walcott is also absent.

Jake Livermore retains his place after a surprise recall in March but the likes of Jordan Henderson, Daniel Sturridge, Ross Barkley and Danny Drinkwater have all been battling injuries.

Chelsea’s Gary Cahill is an obvious captaincy candidate, though Kane is also an option to lead his country.

Picture: Getty. Sidelined: Wayne Rooney was left out of Gareth Southgate’s squad to face Scotland and France next month.