Roy Hodgson has announced that England’s captain, Wayne Rooney, will not start Friday’s friendly against Spain in Alicante.
The England coach insisted that the reason for the decision is that he is simply keen to give all England’s forward players a chance to press their case before the Euro 2016 finals. The Manchester United striker will, fitness permitting, instead feature against France next Tuesday.
With Jamie Vardy also set to miss out because of injury, Harry Kane is expected to lead the attack. Ross Barkley, the Everton midfielder, is likely to be deployed behind Kane against Spain.
Hodgson said: “Wayne’s with me today because he’s the captain of our team, he’s the most important figure as a result, but he actually won’t start the game tomorrow.
“I’m telling you that because Wayne and I are very anxious that we’re not trying to fool anybody or bamboozle anybody when he’s sat alongside me. That’s for the very simple reason that we’re looking at various combinations. Wayne is pencilled in against France on Tuesday.”
Rooney understands the need to rotate the squad, adding: “It’s important especially in these games that the manager has a chance to see as many players as he can before the tournament in the summer.
“As a player you want to play but you have understand that there are bigger things to consider.”
His fellow striker Vardy, who has scored in his last nine Premier League matches, is doubtful due to a niggle he picked up in Leicester City’s victory over Watford, and is also struggling to be fit for the France match.
Hodgson added: “Jamie Vardy is struggling with a knock he picked up on Saturday. We’re monitoring it, we’re still working on it but it looks unlikely at this moment in time that he’ll be able to play tomorrow.”
