BIG SAM CALLS IN THE MIND HEALERS

ENGLAND manager Sam Allardyce is using a team of specialists to heal the mental scars his players suffered at Euro 2016. Allardyce will use the expertise of Lane 4, an elite performance company set up by former Olympic swimming champion Adrian Moorhouse, to help the players build greater ‘resilience’. Lane 4, Allardyce said, are an alternative to Dr Steve Peters, the sports psychiatrist brought in by former manager Roy Hodgson. Allardyce said: ‘We’ll use them on a consistent basis to help the players build a bit more resilience — so they are able to cope with pressure better.’ The news came as midfielder Eric Dier admitted it will take a long time for England to get over their humiliating Euros defeat by Iceland. Adam Lallana’s late goal got the Allardyce era off to a winning start against 10-man Slovakia in their World Cup qualifier on Sunday but Dier knows England must do much better if they are to exorcise the demons of last summer. ‘There is a long way to go until the scars have been healed but it is a start,’ said Dier. Meanwhile, Allardyce has underlined Wayne Rooney’s importance to his England plans. After Sunday’s win, the

manager made the claim that Rooney can play where he wants. Having started in central midfield, England’s captain moved into the No 10 slot in the second half then reverted to a deep-lying role to accommodate substitute Dele Alli. ‘I’m using his experience to its maximum,’ said Allardyce. ‘I’m encouraging him to play as a captain and play very, very well — which I thought he did. He says, “You can play me anywhere you want and I will try and play there”. ‘Me and Wayne’s relationship as we grow will always be to promote him as captain but foremost to make sure he’s playing his best football.’ Rooney insisted the debate over his role is out of proportion. ‘Too much is made about it,’ he said. ‘It’s a big overreaction.’ Meanwhile, Slovakia defender Jan Durica made an astonishing claim that England’s win was fixed. The Slovaks played the final 33 minutes with 10 men after Martin Skrtel was dismissed for two yellow cards — the second a clear stamp on Harry Kane. But Durica said there is a conspiracy to ensure England qualify from Group F. ‘There is only one place at the World Cup. Why should Slovakia go when we have England?’ he said. ‘They’ll always prefer the stronger team. Probably, the referee exactly knew how to do it.’