Wednesday 26 October 2016 08:18, UK
Gareth Southgate has hinted he will continue to pick Wayne Rooney for England even if the striker remains on the Manchester United bench.
Rooney missed United's 4-0 defeat at Chelsea on Sunday through injury and has not started any of their last four Premier League matches having scored just once for club and country this season. It is unknown if he will return to face Manchester City in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old also started on the bench in England's World Cup qualifying draw in Slovenia this month and was not called upon by Southgate until the 73rd minute.
Southgate's initial four-game spell in charge of England ends with a World Cup Qualifier against Scotland and friendly with Spain in November and he says Rooney will almost certainly be in his squad.
"He's the England captain and although he didn't start in Slovenia, to me he is a hugely influential person in that group and that won't change," he said.
"Let's see what that scenario is but I thought his leadership qualities in the 10 days with us shone through. I hadn't been able to see that first hand and it was hugely impressive.
"I could see how he's held in the eyes of the rest of the players and the positive influence he has in that environment. If that wasn't the case I wouldn't say those things. That's as it was.
"I haven't spoken to him since the camp but I'm always conscious players are back into a run of fixtures with their clubs, but I will pick up with him and the others later."
