Wayne Rooney’s England Future Depends on Mourinho
Wayne Rooney's future in the England team uncertain. Sam Allardyce says it depends on how Wayne is used at Manchester United.
Sam Allardyce has played his cards close to his chest and offered Wayne Rooney no assurances over his role in any future England team. Allardyce has said that Rooney’s future in England will depend on how Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho uses him.
Rooney has captained his country for the past two years has vowed to continue his Three Lions career under Allardyce, who was officially presented as Roy Hodgson's successor at St George's Park on Monday, but a question exists over Rooney’s future in the team.
Rooney has spent the majority of 2016 as a playmaking midfielder, for both club and country, but Mourinho has already indicated that experiment will not continue on his watch.
Discussing Rooney, Allardyce said: “I still think Wayne Rooney still has a massive place to play in the England side. I don't think there is any doubt about that.”
However, what exact place he shall play is unclear and shall depend on how Mourinho utilises a player who will be nearly 33 if England qualify for the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018, Allardyce commented:
I think Jose will determine, because if Jose says he is not going to play him in centre midfield and he is playing up front and scoring goals for Manchester United then it would be pointless me bringing him into England and playing him in centre midfield.''
Asked if Rooney could be a first-choice for England if he was overlooked in favour of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial at Old Trafford, Allardyce added: I don't know until that happens with anybody, let alone Wayne Rooney.”
When asked about his relationship with other managers, Allardyce was candid about possible future clashes between club and country:
We've got to try and help each other if we possibly can. It won't always be the case, the demands on Premier League managers and demand on me as England manager is bound to cause some conflict down the line because the pressures are far greater than ever before. So they are bound to want to protect their players and that is what I have to try and overcome with a little bit of give and take, hopefully.''