Wilson nears Wembley goal
other end of his career. Although he made his debut as a 17-year-old substitute against Australia at Upton Park in February 2003, it was his first start two months later when he really served notice of his talent.
“Within a dressing room, you know who those people are who are ready for a challenge,” said Southgate.
“That was something that always struck me with Wayne. I was on the bench for that game against Turkey at Sunderland when he really announced himself on the international stage. It was an incredible performance for somebody so young.
“In training that week, it was ‘OK, who’s this kid and why is he in the squad?’ By the end of the week, we knew that Wayne and players look at how they would like to be treated in that situation. Sometimes you have discussions and think through what we stand for as a group – and it’s good for the players to have an opinion.
“There’s no rulebook. It’s good that the players are not just thinking for themselves.”
Rooney’s four sons, Kai, Klay, Kit and Cass, will all be involved in the guard of honour with their father at Wembley.
FA chairman Greg Clarke will then make a presentation to the player before the match and the proceeds from the game will go to the Wayne Rooney Foundation. Southgate there was no way Sven-Goran Eriksson could not start him.
“I found him always a selfless player. For club and country he ran himself into the ground. Those players are appreciated not only by their coaches and managers but also by their team-mates.”
One of those team-mates tonight will be Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho, set to make his own first start for his country.
“You can’t have players who just look good,” Southgate said of Sancho. “He’s producing assists, goals, good decision-making. He doesn’t just take people on, he plays others in.”
Could he almost have still been talking about that other teenager who made the headlines 15 years ago? said: “I don’t want to pin an exact time on when Wayne will come on because we don’t know the exact flow of the game, but we will give him enough time that we think is fitting. “It is important for us as a group that he gets the right send-off. The senior players are very clear. They want to make sure this is a really good experience for Wayne and his family.” Rooney, now playing for DC United in the MLS, has said he does not want to take a penalty if one is awarded, however. Southgate is set to hand new boys Callum Wilson, Lewis Dunk and Alex McCarthy their debuts tonight and Jadon Sancho, above, his first start. CALLUM WILSON vowed he would never go to Wembley until he played for England.
The Bournemouth striker broke his promise to support his beloved Coventry in last year’s Checkatrade Trophy final because he feared his chance had gone.
But now the 26-yearTHE old finally feels he belongs at the national stadium.
Wilson is in line for his senior debut as Gareth Southgate plans to field two different line-ups in tonight’s friendly against USA and the Nations League clash with Croatia on Sunday.
Wilson said: “When you’re playing around with your friends as a kid, you’re always re-enacting that you’re playing at Wembley, hoping one day it would happen.
“But, for me, with Bournemouth there’s been opportunities playing against Tottenham away, and I’ve not been able to play.
“Even when I was at Coventry, playing in the Conference, I always said I’d play at Wembley for England, and I was disappointed to go – but also happy to go – for Coventry.
“But I was actually disappointed I wasn’t there with England for the first time. I haven’t set foot down there on the pitch, so hopefully that will be for my country.”
That would be a big progression for Wilson, who was called up for the Under-21s during Southgate’s reign while in the Championship.
“A lot has happened since then and as you get older you appreciate more getting recognition for England,” he said.
“I don’t want to come here just to make up the numbers, I want to impress the manager, and be here for a number of years.”