Allardyce (right) has kept his promise to select Joe Hart even though the goalkeeper has been marginalised by Manchester City and faces a fight to play against Slovakia ahead of Fraser Forster.
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“Wayne has been an excellent captain for England and the manner in which he has fulfilled the role made it an easy decision for me to ask him to continue”, Allardyce said Monday, having taken his time to settle on who should have the armband after being hired in July.
“But I say to everybody publicly that those who are disappointed to be left out, the door will always be open and we will always be watching”.
“Having global experience in the under-21s will prove invaluable for us further down the line”, the former West Ham, Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland manager added.
England plays Slovakia in its opening World Cup qualifier on Sunday, for what will be Allardyce’s first game in charge.
“We are, and were, the youngest squad at the Euros and I think the experience they have gained in that tournament, and some of them for the first time, will give them a better determination and next time round they will be much better”. “It shows how much it means if you’ve got guts and desire”.
Rooney played in central midfield for England at Euro 2016, but Allardyce intends to use him in the number 10 role, where he has been playing under new United manager Jose Mourinho. “I think the way it’s been for us the last two or three seasons, it was important for us as a team”, said Rooney. First and foremost lead by example.
“But if there isn’t one, then an on-the-field captain is the main basis of being the captain”. Having been a captain myself, if you thrive on that responsibility and earn respect from players then the captain makes lot of decisions on field that you as manager can’t get on the pitch and do.
“You can shout as much as you want but it’s hard to have an impact”.
Manchester United’s Luke Shaw, Everton’s Phil Jagielka, Leicester City’s Danny Drinkwater and Arsenal’s Theo Walcott returned after missing Euro 2016, where defeat by Iceland in the last 16 cost Roy Hodgson his job.
“Shall we call him an attacking midfielder?”
“So it’s branding around the place, about the journey we are on until 2018 to remind them why we are here”.
“We can get ready for it just in case it does”.
“So if that player’s top quality.cricket do it don’t they?”
“The journey”, said Allardyce, referring to why he selected Antonio.
He has previously worked with Allardyce at Bolton and West Ham.
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“Maybe sometimes we have to dig one out here and there – let’s be resilient and tough”.
