ROONEY VICTIM OF STAR GAZING CULTURE

WATCHING Wayne Rooney publicly humiliated hasn’t been pleasant. His legs are gone and his place in the England side unmerited, but he doesn’t deserve to be ridiculed.

Unfortunately, the 30year-old has been placed in this position by a succession of England managers too spineless and star-blind to wield the axe.

England’s deposed skipper has been running on empty for at least three years. Alex Ferguson knew that well enough to try and get shot in 2013. Even Rooney himself has acknowledged he is much diminished from the teenager who tore up Euro 2004.

Low age, high mileage. No longer a striker, not quite a midfielder.

England’s scintillating victory over Germany earlier this year offered clear evidence that a Rooneyless national side was more mobile and dangerous relieved of his stodgy plodding.

Yet Roy Hodgson stuck his head in the sand, shoe-horned Rooney into his team and paid with his job. Like predecessors and punters alike, Hodgson was blinded by the modern-day obsession with big names.

Just like the infamous insistence on pairing Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, Rooney was forced into the national side not because he fitted a system but because he was perceived as ‘a great player’.

Reputation trumps merit, as selections continue to prove. Scott Dann has been outstanding for Crystal Palace, yet Gary Cahill – a blundering bag of nerves – is the man leading England’s defence.

Charlie Austin and Jamie Vardy have scored for fun, yet Jesse Lingard – purely by dint of playing for Manchester United – gets the nod up front.

It’s very sad that it’s taken a savage media outcry to oust Rooney from his perch. But, having seen Sam Allardyce and Gareth Southgate fall into the trap of wilfully ignoring more worthy players, kicking up a stink was the only option left.