The Free Press Journal

Rooney left out of England squad

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All-time top-scorer Wayne Rooney was on Thursday left out of the England squad for next month's World Cup qualifier against Scotland and a friendly against France.

The 31-year-old striker has lost his place at Manchester United and was similarly omitted from Gareth Southgate's England squad announced in March, although he was carrying a knee injury at the time, but is now fit.

Rooney, who made a brief appearance in Manchester United's Europa League final win over Ajax in Stockholm on Wednesday, had hoped to end his internatio­nal career by captaining England at next year's World Cup in Russia.

But this now looks an increasing­ly forlorn hope for Rooney, England's record goalscorer with 53 goals and their most capped outfielder with 119 appearance­s for his country.

He has fallen down the pecking order at United under manager Jose Mourinho and Thursday's squad announceme­nt saw Southgate opt for the likes of Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford and Jermain Defoe instead of Rooney.

England face oldest rivals Scotland in a World Cup qualifier at Glasgow's Hampden Park on June 10 before travelling to Paris for a friendly three days later.

England squad: Goalkeeper­s: Jack Butland (Stoke City), Fraser Forster (Southampto­n), Joe Hart (Torino/ITA, on loan from Manchester City), Tom Heaton (Burnley)

Defenders: Ryan Bertrand (Southampto­n), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Aaron Cresswell (West Ham United), Ben Gibson (Middlesbro­ugh), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur). –AFP

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AFP

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