England captain Wayne Rooney will not play in Friday’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Estonia after failing to overcome an ankle injury.
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The striker, who last month became England’s all-time leading goal-scorer, has missed three days of training after injuring himself during Manchester United’s 3-0 defeat at Arsenal in the Premier League last Sunday.
“It’s two games away from happening and I don’t see it as being that great an achievement unless we go on and do well at the finals”, he said.
Roy Hodgson has vowed not to experiment with his side when England take on Estonia at Wembley on Friday night.
“It’s a disappointment for Wayne, of course”, manager Hodgson told a press conference at England’s team hotel in Watford, north of London.
Hodgson also revealed Rooney would not make the trip to Lithuania, saying: “The important thing now is for Wayne to recover from this minor injury and to be fully fit the next time Manchester United play Saturday week”.
As England already finds itself in the UEFA Euro 2016 Finals next summer in France, this will be an opportunity for Hodgson to plan his strategy moving forward.
“Playing there (up front) for England, that’s what I want to do”, he said, speaking ahead of the game.
“It is settling down very, very well but we don’t to risk him tomorrow”.
Hodgson, who will give Tottenham striker Harry Kane his first competitive global start in the Wembley dead rubber, said: “We’ve got an bad lot of work to do against good quality opposition who will test us out to the ultimate extent”.
England skipper Rooney is described as a major doubt after missing his second training session since the squad linked up at St George’s Park on Tuesday, while Liverpool striker Ings was also absent yesterday.
“I don’t really want to change anything in my game or the way I approach the game”, Cahill said.
“I’ve played up front for Arsenal, so there’s an opportunity there, but again I can operate on the right, which I’ve been doing most of my career”.
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Walcott has only made double figures in three of his nine years at Arsenal, but if he continues at his current rate, he stands a good chance of breaking his best tally of 21, which came three years ago.
