Roy Hodgson says Wayne Rooney lacked team-mate support over hotel incident
Friday 23 December 2016 08:08, UK
Roy Hodgson believes Wayne Rooney should have received more support from his England team-mates when he was pictured on an evening out following the national side's 3-0 win over Scotland in November.
The 69-year-old said Rooney, who issued a public apology, was "hung out to dry", adding he was disappointed that Phil Jagielka did not back the England captain after the incident.
"In this particular instance there should have been more joint responsibility," Hodgson told The Times. "If anyone was caught we would expect all of us to come out and say 'Yeah look you're right.
"I wouldn't have said it is awful. I would be saying things like: 'They had the night off. Yes, we imposed upon them the message not to do this but they are human beings.
"We'd just had a good result. Have you never gone out and had a drink? Have you never let your hair down, have never done something you shouldn't do.
"I would have expected the other guys to say 'hold on, don't just blame him, I was there too. I'm just saying I'm disappointed in the group.
"It doesn't matter that it was Phil Jagielka with Rooney and not, say, Joe Hart. It was another Premier League player and I'm disappointed in Phil a little."
Regarding Rooney's England future, Hodgson added: "The question these days for the coach (Gareth Southgate) is: Is his role as one of the squad with his experience, knowledge, the fact he's a good guy and gets on with everybody, or is his role as one of the starting XI?
"That is up to the coach to decide. I don't know that you become a bad leader, a bad captain, because you get caught having a drink, because someone snapped you."
