Sports
Rooney won’t start Spain game, Henderson to captain England
Englands Jack Wilshere, Jamie Vardy and Gary Cahill arrive for training at Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre, November 14, 21016. u00e2u20acu2022 Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley Livepic

LONDON, Nov 14 ― England captain Wayne Rooney will not start the friendly against Spain after missing training today, manager Gareth Southgate said.

Rooney sat out the session due to minor issues and Southgate confirmed that Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson will lead the team against the 2010 world champions at Wembley tomorrow.

"I wouldn’t start Wayne in this game anyway. Jordan Henderson will be captain,” Southgate told a news conference.

"The key for me is I believe we have several leaders and I don’t think we can have just one captain,” he added.

"Too much responsibility has been on Wayne, we need to share that. Once you have a team of those leaders you can have a lot of success.”

Southampton left back Ryan Bertrand also missed training today and with only 19 outfield players available, 17-year-old Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dylan Duncan was invited to join in.

England defeated bitter rivals Scotland 3-0 in a World Cup Group F qualifier on Friday while Spain crushed Macedonia 4-0 in Group G on Saturday.

Tomorrow’s game will be the last of Southgate’s four-match audition as England interim manager.

The former Under-21 coach landed the role on a temporary basis after Sam Allardyce was sacked in September for behaving "inappropriately” when seeking a lucrative sideline role while talking to undercover reporters. ― Reuters

Related Articles

 

You May Also Like