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England rest five players for final Euro 2016 qualifier

 Roy Hodgson manager of England looks on prior to the UEFA EURO 2016 Group E qualifying match between England and Estonia
Image: Roy Hodgson's England maintained their perfect run in qualification with victory over Estonia at Wembley

England will rest five players for their final Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania following the 2-0 win over Estonia.

England won their ninth straight Euro 2016 qualifier on Friday with a comfortable yet uninspiring 2-0 victory over their Baltic visitors thanks to goals from Theo Walcott and Raheem Sterling.

After the game, manager Roy Hodgson confirmed five of the squad would not travel to Lithuania on Monday for the final qualifier in Vilnius.

Michael Carrick and captain Wayne Rooney, who missed the victory in London through injury, will return to Manchester United.

Sir Bobby Charlton presents England's Wayne Rooney with a golden boot
Image: Sir Bobby Charlton presents Wayne Rooney with a golden boot

England's all-time leading goal-scorer Rooney was at Wembley where he was presented with a golden boot before kick-off from the man whose record he overtook Sir Bobby Charlton.

Joe Hart, Gary Cahill and James Milner, who all played 90 minutes against the Estonians, will also not travel to Vilnius.

It means Hodgson will be looking for a new captain as Cahill, who had replaced the injured Rooney at Wembley will be absent along with further contenders for the armband Hart and Milner.

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Chris Smalling is likely to be a leading contender to captain what will be a youthful and experimental team that seek England's first 100% European qualifying campaign.

"We have other players I need to see in that game," Hodgson said.

"Gary Cahill has occasional back problems and we were a bit concerned with: A, the flight and B, the artificial pitch.

"In a choice of taking him or Smalling alongside (Phil) Jagielka and (Phil) Jones, I went for Chris Smalling.

"Joe Hart is being left behind against his will, because he wants to play, so we can see Jack Butland.

"James Milner, I wanted to play Jonjo Shelvey in this game, so I don't need James there, because I've got the players to cover."

Hodgson does not expect Rooney's ankle problem or Carrick's groin injury to keep the pair out of United's fixture at Everton on Saturday week.

"I'm fully expecting to see both Michael and Wayne Rooney 100 per cent fit for Louis van Gaal next Saturday," said Hodgson, who confirmed Carrick had a fitness test on Friday morning.

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