Wayne Rooney sure to start in Roy Hodgson's Euro 2016 England team
Friday 25 March 2016 23:45, UK
Wayne Rooney is a certainly to be in Roy Hodgson's Euro 2016 starting line-up regardless of his end-of-season form, according to the Soccer Saturday pundits.
The Manchester United captain will miss the forthcoming friendlies with Germany and the Netherlands as he completes his rehabilitation from a knee injury, allowing the Premier League's leading scorers, Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy, to stake a claim for a starting berth.
Talented duo Ross Barkley and Dele Alli also add to competition in the support striker role, while the fit-again Daniel Sturridge has the chance to impress.
We asked the other three Soccer Saturday pundits who they expect to start up front for England at this summer's showpiece...
Charlie Nicholas says...
If Rooney is fit, I think Roy will definitely pick him. He'll play him with Kane in link up role and have Vardy on the bench as an impact player.
I'd rather see Barkley and Alli in there supporting Kane, but it's easy for me as a Scot without a nation's expectations on my shoulders. I think those two could be big stars this summer and they certainly deserve to be in ahead of Rooney based on form this season.
Paul Merson says...
Hodgson will definitely start him and for me he's still the first name on the team sheet. He's played over 100 games for his country, our all-time leading goalscorer and still an exceptional footballer.
Fast forward to the Euros and imagine Rooney wasn't in the line-up. That would be a huge shock and Russia would be absolutely delighted.
Phil Thompson says...
He'll be going to the Euros and probably starting regardless of what we say.
Hodgson will have him in his squad because of the experience he brings, even if he's not going to be in the starting line-up, but it would be a huge surprise if he was fit and didn't start against Russia.
Matt Le Tissier says...
Hodgson will play Rooney regardless of his form because he's a very loyal manager. He's already said that if his captain is fit then he'll play him.
He was England's top scorer in qualification but I'm not sure I would start him with the form he's been in for Manchester United this season, especially when you've got two of the Premier League top scorers to pick from and two of Europe's most exciting young talents in Barkley and Alli as well.
