Wayne Rooney stays as England captain under new manager Sam Allardyce
Updated: 19/11/2024
Wayne Rooney will continue as England captain, with manager Sam Allardyce stating it was an “simple choice”.
Rooney is England's record goalscorer and took on the armband from Steven Gerrard a year earlier.
Allardyce said Manchester United captain Rooney was “hugely respected by his peers” and has actually “taken pleasure in the obligation” as captain.
The England squad is getting ready for Sunday's opening 2018 World Cup qualifier in Slovakia.
Rooney, 30, led Roy Hodgson's England side throughout Euro 2016, which ended with a frustrating last-16 exit to global minnows Iceland.
However Allardyce said Rooney had actually been “an outstanding captain for England” and as the most senior squad member was the “best choice to lead the group”.
” You would hope the captain would make a choice on the pitch if he felt it needed to [be made],” said Allardyce, 61. “For me, that's the captain's role. It's a big responsibility at club level and even more so at global level. Firstly lead by example.
” It's everything about the personality. Can you manage the responsibility of being captain? I believe he [Rooney] has actually taken pleasure in the responsibility. Some players do not desire that obligation.”
Allardyce on Rooney's position
Rooney was utilized as a midfielder during Euro 2016 under Hodgson. At Old Trafford this season under Jose Mourinho, Rooney has played in a much deeper position behind the striker.
” Wayne Rooney's position has altered at Manchester United and that is where I will play him,” Allardyce said.
” Dele Alli has started well too, so that makes it a challenging choice. We'll wait and see, however we are taking a look at balance of positions.
” We wish to have two players in each position and not leave ourselves short. Hopefully we make that choice after this [training school] and we understand the very best XI to begin with.”
Wayne Rooney
Sam Allardyce anticipates to use Wayne Rooney as an attacking midfielder in line with his development at Manchester United
… on first-team experience
England employer Sam Allardyce states he was “worried” by previous squads, including players unskilled at first-team level for their clubs.
But he advised those left out of his team for Sunday's World Cup qualifier in Slovakia to “keep playing effectively, and we'll keep viewing”.
Everton's Ross Barkley missed out on out as uncapped West Ham winger Michail Antonio got his first call.
” It's the hardest team I've ever picked because it's England,” he said.
” I hope that a growing number of very challenging decisions need to be made by the form of England players in the Premier League all breaking into the first string, playing routinely,” Allardyce included.
” It benefits us if players coming here would be really disappointed at not remaining in the team, like Ross Barkley, and the players that aren't chosen in the 11 are then dissatisfied, and say ‘begun gaffer I are worthy of a location' – that's healthy for England.”
Previous West Ham manager Allardyce stated he has not called any of the left out players personally, but added “the door will always be open” for Barkley, who has 2 goals in 4 appearances for Everton this season.
Marcus Rashford, who broke into the Manchester United first string in February until increasing from England Under-20 to senior level under Roy Hodgson and including at Euro 2016, was left out of Allardyce's 23-man squad.
Allardyce said the 18-year-old's addition in England's Under-21s “will be indispensable for us later down the line”.
” In the past it's been a case of some of the players signing up with up who have not played that much for their teams. And that's a little an issue,” Allardyce added, having invested nearly 6 weeks selecting the team for England's very first significant match since leaving Euro 2016 in the last 16.
” We've taken a look at all opportunities, what sort of pre-season they've had, what occurred last season, this season, and took a look at balance of the team.”
Collection midfielder Jack Wilshere also lost out and Allardyce explained: “Jack simply hasn't had sufficient video game time. If Jack Wilshere was playing every week for Arsenal he would be in the squad.”
… on Antonio
Michail Antonio celebrates with his West Ham team-mates
West Ham's Michail Antonio (centre) could make his first England cap
Antonio signed up with West Ham from Nottingham Forest for ₤ 7m in 2015 having actually bet Reading, Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton because beginning his profession at non-league Tooting & Mitcham. The 26-year-old has actually scored 2 objectives in his previous two games for the Hammers, including in Sunday's 3-1 defeat at Manchester City.
” The quality of the player has revealed through in every league he has played,” Allardyce said.
” The impact he had at the end of last season and the start of this, his attacking flair, his quality of final-third shipment, and his goal record from a wide position – I think that journey is something that deserves to be in this team.”
‘ Important to captivate'
Allardyce was criticised by some fans while at West Ham for not playing what they called “the West Ham method”. But the former Bolton and Sunderland manager said he would wish to entertain England fans.
” It's about winning and entertaining – especially at Wembley, amusing the fans is extremely, crucial,” he said.
” Maybe in some cases we have to dig one out here and there – let's be resistant and difficult. And let's do what we need to do to obtain the result, something like Manchester United against Hull City. It all feels so excellent when you win it like that.
” Hopefully we do not have to do a lot of like that but it feels nice when that happens.”
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