Rooney ‘excited’ by England competition
England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has refuted claims that he is an automatic starter in the England line up as the squad deadline for Euro 2016 approaches. He is instead 'excited' by the competition.
Manchester United striker, Wayne Rooney, says he is ‘excited’ by the competition in the England squad as Euro 2016 approaches. England manager, Roy Hodgson, has faced increasing pressure to drop the all-time English top scorer as the form of fellow strikers, Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane, has fluctuated.
Speaking to ITV in the build up to England’s friendly against the Netherlands on Tuesday night, the England captain said: “As I've said throughout my career with Manchester United and England, I never take my place for granted.
”Obviously you want to play, and it is great that that competition is now there.
“With the quality we have got, it is exciting to be a part of.
Rooney, who is currently side- lined with a knee injury, added: “I don't think of it in terms of needing to fight for my place. I think it is exciting.
“I think in previous tournaments, if everyone is fit, more or less the team is set. But now, no-one knows what is going to happen.
“The manager can play three or four teams with different combinations if he wants, because I really believe we have got that quality.”
The Manchester United forward watched on as the in-form Jamie Vardy added another goal to his remarkable season during England’s 2-1 loss to the Netherlands.
This was sure to please his son who, as also revealed by Rooney at the start of the game, had requested an England shirt with ‘Vardy’ on it.
Rooney says he’s not too far away from returning for Manchester United: “If everything goes according to plan, I'm back outside running now and I'm hoping to be full training within the next week or 10 days, so not too far away.''
He could be fit for Manchester United’s away trip to title challengers, Tottenham Hotspur, on April 10th.