Updated at 13.28
WAYNE ROONEY’S INTERNATIONAL career looks over after England’s all-time top-scorer was Thursday left out of the squad for next month’s World Cup qualifier against Scotland and a friendly in France.
The 31-year-old striker has lost his place at Manchester United and was similarly omitted from Gareth Southgate’s England squad announced in March, although he was carrying a knee injury at the time.
Fit-again Rooney, who made a brief appearance in Manchester United’s Europa League final win over Ajax in Stockholm on Wednesday, had hoped to end his international career by captaining England at next year’s World Cup in Russia.
But this now looks an increasingly forlorn hope for Rooney, England’s record goalscorer with 53 goals and their most capped outfielder with 119 appearances for his country.
His United career could also be over having fallen down the pecking order under manager Jose Mourinho.
Thursday’s squad announcement saw Southgate opt for the likes of Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford and Jermain Defoe instead of Rooney in attack.
The 19-year-old Rashford, who started for United against Ajax, has inherited the mantle of “teen sensation” that used to belong to Rooney and his inclusion in the senior squad means he will not feature for the England U21s in this year’s age-group European Championships.
Kane’s call-up is the first time the Premier League’s golden boot winner has been included in one of Southgate’s England squads, with the Tottenham Hotspur striker having missed all six of the manager’s previous matches in charge through injury.
Kane’s club colleague Kieran Trippier has received a first England call-up after impressing for the Premier League runners-up, with Middlesbrough’s Ben Gibson and West Ham United’s Aaron Cresswell also included in a 25-man squad.
England face oldest rivals Scotland in a World Cup qualifier at Glasgow’s Hampden Park on 10 June before travelling to Paris for a friendly three days later.
Meanwhile, Rooney says that he is unsure about his future at Manchester United and conceded that he will have to make decisions ‘over the next few weeks’ concerning where he will be playing next season.
“I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t know,” Rooney told reporters when asked if he had played his last game for the club.
I think it’s a time now I’ll go and spend with my family, obviously there’s decisions I have to make and I’ll do that over the next few weeks.”
Rooney started just 15 games in the Premier League this season, scoring five times and he was utilised more prominently in the club’s successful EFL Cup and Europa League runs.
The former Everton youth now adds the Europa League trophy to an impressive haul accrued while at Old Trafford, which includes five Premier League titles, four League Cups, an FA Cup and Champions League.
England squad: Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Stoke City), Fraser Forster (Southampton), Joe Hart (Torino/ITA, on loan from Manchester City), Tom Heaton (Burnley)
Defenders: Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Aaron Cresswell (West Ham United), Ben Gibson (Middlesbrough), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur)
Midfielders: Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Jake Livermore (West Bromwich Albion), Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
Forwards: Jermain Defoe (Sunderland), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)
Additional reporting by AFP
Can’t see him at United next year. Been a fantastic player and deserves nothing less than the fitting send off of lifting the trophy last night.
@Bognor regis: very true a fitting end to his Utd career I think
@Bognor regis: Didnt do to bad for a man who held his Club and fans to ransom, Twice.
@Ciarán: get a grip, he used leverage to get a wage hike. Happens every day in the workplace.
@Ciarán: what like slippy kissing the badge Chelsea come Knockin but knew he wouldn’t have as much authority ya ya
When Samson lost his hair, his power diminished, when Rooney gained his, his power diminished. Hair today, gone tomorrow.
@Paul Culligan: scored 27 league goals after the transplant and 34 in total that season. Then RVP came in and he became a midfielder.
He was an absolute beast of a footballer up until a few seasons ago. Age catches up with us all. Legend.
@Phil Sheppard: Age? lol….he’s younger than Ronaldo
@Phil Sheppard: Age? His legacy is set but to be honest he didn’t look after himself and should be still be a ‘beast’ of a player. Smoking and drinking is not looking after yourself. Kids should role model themselves on ronaldo and ibrahimovic not rooney.
@Brian O’Loughlin: yes, age. Meaning in football terms his legs have gone, his turn of pace isn’t their anymore. Has the penny dropped ? Do you comprehend ? Good Lad.
@Ardmore02: Thats your opinion & I might add That’s a separate issue, try and stay on topic. Good Lad, Jog on.
Defoe is 34, Rooney is 31. If Rooney moves on to a new premier club and gets some form, he’ll be heading to Russia.
Look at the state of those midfield options compared to previous generations Scholes Gerrard Lampard etc
@Eric Djemba-Djemba: and they will achieve the same
Not being picked for a qualifier against Scotland hardly means his international career is over.Rooney will be at the World Cup next year guaranteed.He’s by no means the player he was but is still better than half that squad
@Evangelos: how guaranteed?
@An_Beal_Bocht: In my opinion he’s guaranteed.Only around 4 or 5 of that squad have been to a World Cup so they’ll take for his experience if nothing else
How the mighty have fallen… Was always a fan of Rooney since he burst onto the scene as a teenager. Hope he moves to another PL club rather than go to a retirement home in US or China.
Best of luck to him. He had a good career overall and always gave everything. I think he could still do a job at a smaller club.
It’s disappointing but understandable why he was left out. He really hasn’t been playing much at all this season and others have been showing this abilities. I believe last night could be his last game for United. The way came on to lift the trophy, was very much like a Goodbye.
Still had a lot to give. It looks like Jose doesn’t fancy him. Still won’t be able to bring in a player as good as him. We will be sorry if he’s goes, was always a team player,