door is st ll open for roo

Southgate: Wayne can yet return

GARETH SOUTHGATE has insisted that Wayne Rooney still has a future with England.

The Manchester United striker has played no part in this week’s internationals, but Southgate stated last night: “Absolutely Wayne can still play for us.”

The England boss also dismissed the clamour for Rooney to be awarded the sort of farewell “testimonial” fixture that Germany’s retiring Lukas Podolski had in Dortmund.

“I didn’t understand why we were talking about tributes when Wayne still has every chance of being in this team,” said Southgate. “There’s no reason why he’s finished with us.”

Southgate also refuted that Rooney’s failure to attend a team meeting last week amounted to a snub.

“There was never a problem with people missing it,” said Southgate. “The most important thing was those guys felt part of the group.”