Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney is a major doubt for England’s penultimate Euro 2016 qualifier clash against Estonia on Friday (9 October) after picking up an ankle knock during the Red Devils’ 3-0 loss at the hands of Arsenal on Sunday (4 October).
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Roy Hodgson insists he is not “deluded” by England ‘s perfect-so-far Euro qualifying campaign – and expects flaws in his young side to be exposed in their upcoming friendlies.
The Liverpool striker, 23, has been celebrating his maiden call-up to the senior squad, but has been suffering with an ankle injury, the same issue that will also keep Wayne Rooney out of the game.
Another striker who could get a chance to play up front with Rooney unavailable is Danny Ings, although he has missed the last two days of training.
Tickets for Friday’s game are still available to buy online, visit www.TheFA.com/tickets to secure your seats for the Three Lions’ final home Euro 2016 Qualifier.
Despite already having qualified for the European Championships, Hodgson said this was no time for experimentation with his team selection.
“It is settling down very, very well but we don’t to risk him on Friday”.
Hodgson was caught on camera smiling broadly at White Hart Lane last month after Kane scored his first club goal of the season in Tottenham Hotspur’s 4-1 win over Manchester City and he has challenged the 22-year-old to prove himself a capable deputy for 29-year-old Rooney.
“He has all the things an England player needs, but he’s had an terrible lot of injuries, so it’s been a stop start career”, said Hodgson, who was without the former Southampton player at the 2014 World Cup due to a knee injury.
“He’s been unlucky on a couple of occasions when he’s been pencilled in to play, but he’s had to leave us with injury”.
Before that, though, he will take to the field at Wembley to receive a golden boot from Sir Bobby Charlton, whose long-standing scoring record he broke with his penalty against Switzerland.
Estonia come into this game still with a chance of qualifying for the competition and I think that they will have a good go against an England team that is bound to be a little bit complacent.
“I know everyone would like to see me up front”, Walcott told reporters before the Estonia game.
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“He (Wenger) asked if I could be more aggressive on the pitch”, Walcott said.
