“Dele Alli has started well too, so that makes it a hard choice”, said Allardyce.
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“The door will always be open for Ross but at this moment we felt the squad I’ve picked is the right one”, said Allardyce, who will name his captain on Tuesday.
England captain Wayne Rooney announced on Tuesday that the 2018 World Cup in Russian Federation will be his final tournament as an global footballer. He is the most senior member of the squad and he is hugely respected by his peers. “All of these factors point towards him being the right choice to lead the team”. “I’m ready to play whether it’s midfield, number 10 or striker”. “Let him go and have a feel playing for the Under-21s; hopefully he’s a star for them, scores goals for them and gives me that decision next time around on the next squad I pick”.
WAYNE ROONEY has announced the 2018 World Cup will be his final tournament with England after he was kept on as captain by new boss Sam Allardyce.
Rooney became England’s all-time top scorer when he converted a penalty against Switzerland last September and his goal in the loss to Iceland was his 53rd at worldwide level.
“Dele Alli has started well too, so that makes it a hard choice”. “Since then and on holiday and back at Manchester United I have not had much to think about”. “But you have to make these decisions”.
“I’m looking forward to this new regime”.
Just eight years ago, Antonio was playing non-league football with Tooting & Mitcham – something that he believes could have deterred Allardyce from calling him up.
He had spells on loan at lowly clubs before joining Sheffield Wednesday and then Nottingham Forest.
And West Ham’s principle sponsors Betway are pretty confident that Antonio will be on the winning side when the two sides lock horns in Eastern Europe this weekend.
“I started playing worldwide football at 17, so at 32, in two years’ time, I will have been playing at that level for 15 years and I think that is a good time to finish”. “I’m pleased the manager has come in, put me in the squad and given me the opportunity as captain”.
“I think that past year his impact on West Ham was only overshadowed by [Dimitri] Payet, he scored nine goals in his first season”.
Many fans anxious about the youngster’s future at Old Trafford following the arrivals of Jose Mourinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic this summer but he grabbed the headlines once again with an injury-time victor against Hull City on Saturday.
“The journey”, Allardyce said, when asked to explain why he selected Antonio, who scored in West Ham’s 3-1 defeat by Manchester City on Sunday.
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“And, if he’s breaking into Manchester United’s team, he will be in my squad”.
