Wayne Rooney could still play up front for England, says Roy Hodgson

Roy Hodgson is prepared to restore Wayne Rooney to an attacking role at Euro 2016, despite admitting that the England captain has exceeded expectations as the team’s creative force in midfield.

Despite being deployed as a forward in England’s final warm-up game against Portugal at Wembley, Rooney has performed as a deep-lying midfielder in the Group B encounters with Russia and Wales, earning plaudits for his ability to adapt to the position on the international stage.

Having been impressed by Rooney’s displays for Manchester United in midfield towards the end of last season – particularly his performance in the FA Cup final victory over Crystal Palace at Wembley – Hodgson began to consider using the 30-year-old in a deeper role during England’s pre-tournament preparations.

But with England preparing to travel to St Etienne on Sunday ahead of Monday’s final group game against Slovakia at Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Hodgson insists that Rooney’s days as a centre-forward are not over.

“The one who really deserves a pat on the back is Wayne Rooney because we thought if we could get him being Wayne Rooney doing this job here (in midfield), we’ll get a lot out of it,” Hodgson said. “We’ll get a goalscorer from distance, we’ll get a passer and we’ll get the benefit of his experience and his captaincy.

“In the two games so far, what we have seen from Eric Dier and Dele Alli I was half expecting, but Wayne was one where I had to wait and see what he would be like, although I did see him play there for Manchester United and knew he could do it.

“It is not a surprise that the situation has occurred (that he has dropped into midfield), but with that said, we would always be prepared to use him as a front player.

“There is more competition for places at the front with what we’ve got but I wouldn’t hesitate to put him back there.”

Approaching his 31st birthday in October and with fourteen years at the top level behind him, Rooney finds himself as England’s elder statesman in France.

The boy wonder of Euro 2004 has now become the wise old head of a squad whose average age of 25 is the youngest England have taken to a major tournament since the 1958 World Cup.

But despite his status as England’s all-time leading goalscorer – Rooney is also just five goals away from breaking Sir Bobby Charlton’s goals record at United – Hodgson admits that it was inevitable that the former Everton youngster would eventually embrace a deeper role.

“I had it in mind more recently, but Wayne has been playing for England for over 12 years and he is still playing at 30 with over 100 caps,” Hodgson said. “There is always going to be a time, especially as these young bucks come on the scene who run like gazelles and sprint like the wind, that players are thinking ‘maybe it is time for me to move back a little bit.’

“But I’m happy for him to be the Wayne Rooney we want and the captain of our team.

“He has shown work-rate, desire and composure at times. Against Wales, Wayne was one of the guys that was prepared to stay on the ball that little bit longer and make the extra pass and not be tempted by the killer pass or killer shot which we were guilty of a few times when we got into positions in the second half.”

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Going into Euro 2016, England’s performances in friendlies without Rooney during his injury-enforced absence had sparked a debate over his value to the team.

Would his return to the side diminish the impact of Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy, could he find a role in midfield?

But Hodgson insists he was never caught up in the ‘should he play, shouldn’t he play?’ argument over his captain.

“If you are England captain and you are Wayne Rooney, who has never been far from the headlines, it seems to go with the territory,” Hodgson said. “I’m not trying to be arrogant here, but we don’t actually pay attention to those things, if it is said Wayne Rooney is fantastic or Wayne Rooney should be dropped.

“It doesn’t really affect us. We analyse his performances and what he can do for us. When he is having bad moments, we ask questions, but we never get swept along in that tide of ‘Rooney The King’ or ‘Rooney shouldn’t be in the 23.’

“We are still young so there are a lot more strides to take, but looking back as a group, they have done very well and obviously Wayne has very much played his part as the senior player and captain of the team.”