The Scotsman

Rooney given a glimpse of the future as he bows out

● Youngsters shine while Wembley bids farewell to England’s all-time top scorer

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ovation when brought on in the 58th minute of a match that Southgate’s men were already in control of thanks to a fine Lingard effort and Alexander-arnold’s first goal for his country.

And the 33-year-old was first to celebrate with Wilson after the debutant scored the third on a night that saw the DC United forward impress against the country he now calls home.

His appearance in this friendly may have split opinion in the build-up, but there can be no doubt that the support for the Wayne Rooney Foundation and chance for fans to say thanks was only positive.

Rooney was the focus from the outset and was joined by his four boys before kick-off as he received a guard of honour from both sets of players – a heartwarmi­ng moment followed by a stirring England start.

USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan was under pressure early on, superbly tipping a Dele Alli header onto the bar – unaware that the linesman’s flag was up – before Wilson frustratin­gly failed to turn home a cross from six yards.

Wilson soon went down in the box as Guzan rushed out, but there would be no penalty or yellow card for diving, just angry words from the American.

Lingard stung the palms as

0 Wayne Rooney smiles after missing a late chance to score a farewell goal for England at Wembley.

Sancho impressed, before the teenager’sborussiad­ortmund team-mate came close to scoring.

Michael Keane and Dunk had looked assured, if largely untroubled, until the point that Christian Pulisic raced onto his own flick, only for Jordan Pickford to come to the home side’s rescue.

It was a let-off that England swiftly capitalise­d on. Alli won possession on the left flank and eventually played back to the unmarked Lingard on the edge of the box, where he curled a superb effort into the top right-hand corner.

Just 104 seconds later, Rooney was clapping another goal as he warmed up on the sideline, with Sancho notching his first England assist by feeding

Alexander-arnold to thump home his maiden internatio­nal strike. The first half petered out after that quickfire double, with the last 15 minutes of it less entertaini­ng than sprinting great Usain Bolt’s half-time appearance.

Southampto­n goalkeeper Mccarthy came on for his debut at the start of a second period that started slowly, only to be livened up when Rooney replaced Lingard.

The visitors were by then threatenin­g to pull one back, with Bobby Wood heading over and Pulisic proving as much of a handful as the pitch invader who ran on to hug Rooney.

The forward got his first sniff of goal in the 71st minute as he cut back on the edge of the box

and got away an attempt that Guzan easily stopped.

Ruben Loftus-cheek was blocked after being found by a superb Rooney pass before Wilson shot wide under pressure. Just as the Cherries frontman looked to be denied, he found the net by getting across John Brooks to turn home a cross from Fabian Delph.

The fans were willing Rooney to add to Wilson’s goal, but Guzan denied him in stoppage time.

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