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Wayne Rooney will continue as England captain, with supervisor Sam Allardyce saying it was an “easy choice”.
Rooney is England's record goalscorer and took on the armband from Steven Gerrard a year back.
Allardyce said Manchester United captain Rooney was “hugely respected by his peers” and has actually “enjoyed the responsibility” as captain.
The England squad is preparing 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 international minnows Iceland.
But Allardyce stated Rooney had actually been “an excellent captain for England” and as the most senior squad member was the “best choice to lead the team”.
” You would hope the captain would decide on the pitch if he felt it required to [be made],” said Allardyce, 61. “For me, that's the captain's function. It's a big obligation at club level and even more so at global level. Primarily lead by example.
” It's everything about the character. Can you manage the responsibility of being captain? I think he [Rooney] has enjoyed the obligation. Some players do not want that obligation.”
Allardyce on Rooney's position
Rooney was utilized as a midfielder throughout 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 actually altered at Manchester United and that is where I will play him,” Allardyce said.
” Dele Alli has actually begun well too, so that makes it a challenging choice. We'll wait and see, however we are looking at balance of positions.
” We want to have two players in each position and not leave ourselves short. Ideally we make that choice after this [training school] and we understand the very best XI to start with.”
Wayne Rooney
Sam Allardyce anticipates to use Wayne Rooney as an attacking midfielder in line with his evolution at Manchester United
… on first-team experience
England manager Sam Allardyce states he was “worried” by previous teams, including gamers inexperienced at first-team level for their clubs.
But he urged those overlooked of his team for Sunday's World Cup qualifier in Slovakia to “keep playing extremely well, and we'll keep enjoying”.
Everton's Ross Barkley missed out as uncapped West Ham winger Michail Antonio got his very first call.
” It's the hardest team I've ever picked due to the fact that it's England,” he said.
” I hope that more and more extremely tough choices need to be made by the type 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 very dissatisfied at not being in the squad, like Ross Barkley, and the players that aren't picked in the 11 are then dissatisfied, and state ‘begun gaffer I deserve a location' – that's healthy for England.”
Previous West Ham manager Allardyce said he has not contacted any of the omitted gamers personally, however included “the door will always be open” for Barkley, who has 2 goals in 4 looks for Everton this season.
Marcus Rashford, who burglarized the Manchester United initially team in February before rising from England Under-20 to senior level under Roy Hodgson and including at Euro 2016, was overlooked of Allardyce's 23-man team.
Allardyce stated the 18-year-old's inclusion in England's Under-21s “will be indispensable for us later down the line”.
” In the past it's been a case of a few of the players enrolling who haven't played that much for their teams. And that's a little a concern,” Allardyce included, having actually invested almost 6 weeks choosing the team for England's very first major match given that exiting Euro 2016 in the last 16.
” We've taken a look at all avenues, what sort of pre-season they've had, what took place last season, this season, and took a look at balance of the squad.”
Toolbox midfielder Jack Wilshere likewise missed out and Allardyce explained: “Jack just hasn't had enough video game time. If Jack Wilshere was playing every week for Arsenal he would be in the team.”
… on Antonio
Michail Antonio celebrates with his West Ham team-mates
West Ham's Michail Antonio (centre) could earn his first England cap
Antonio signed up with West Ham from Nottingham Forest for ₤ 7m in 2015 having bet Reading, Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton considering that beginning his profession at non-league Tooting & Mitcham. The 26-year-old has scored 2 goals in his past two video games for the Hammers, consisting of in Sunday's 3-1 defeat at Manchester City.
” The quality of the player has actually revealed through in every league he has actually played,” Allardyce said.
” The impact he had at the end of last season and the start of this, his assaulting style, his quality of final-third delivery, and his goal record from a large position – I believe that journey is something that deserves to be in this squad.”
‘ Important to amuse'
Allardyce was criticised by some fans while at West Ham for not playing exactly what they called “the West Ham way”. However the previous Bolton and Sunderland employer said he would desire to captivate England fans.
” It's about winning and captivating – especially at Wembley, amusing the fans is really, extremely important,” he said.
” Maybe in some cases we have to dig one out occasionally – let's be resistant and difficult. And let's do what we have to do to get the result, something like Manchester United against Hull City. All of it feels so good when you win it like that.
” Hopefully we don't have to do a lot of like that but it feels nice when that happens.”