“His attitude is fantastic”.
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Displaying blistering pace, clever movement and a maturity beyond his tender years, Rashford’s predatory instincts went on full display. “I strongly believe he deserves his place in the squad”, Rooney said. “We should learn our lessons from previous tournaments and not gamble with players’ fitness”. I’m not anxious about this because we are having good preparation.
Once again he was completely unfazed and it took less than three minutes for Rashford to become the youngest player to score on his England debut with a cool volley that shattered Tommy Lawton’s 77-year old record.
Rooney was in a similar position in Portugal at Euro 2004, when he sparkled as an unfettered 18-year-old as England made it to the quarter-finals.
His rapid ascent was, remarkably, relatively slow in comparison to Rashford’s, and the England captain hopes the country’s latest teenage star is allowed to blossom.
Bertrand will not be considered for selection for England’s final warm-up match, against Portugal on Thursday night, but will travel with the squad to France.
Rooney will not play under Mourinho until United’s pre-season tour of China in July at the earliest and in the meantime, he has a sixth major tournament with England to attend to.
“All my players are important”, he said.
“As a young lad that’s how you’ll see the best out of him”.
“In the future you can work on advice and instructions but, with some players, you just let them play – and I think he fits that category”.
Hodgson finalised his 23-man squad for this summer’s tilt at glory on Tuesday afternoon, with Andros Townsend and Danny Drinkwater joining the injured Fabian Delph in being cut from the enlarged provisional party.
“We’re proud as players and we want to make the nation proud too”.
“He has special qualities”.
He noted: “There is big pressure but I think he has to have confidence and trust himself”.
He expects the other strikers in Hodgson’s 23-man pool – Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge – to keep him sidelined instead.
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“It’s certainly as good as I’ve felt going into a tournament, and that’s largely because I’m injury-free”, the 30-year-old said. “I feel a lot of tournaments, not all of course, but a lot I’ve had little niggles so I’m happy with my fitness and my form and just looking forward to the tournament”.
