Wayne Rooney was nearing the end of his media duties on the eve of a clash with Lithuania when talk turned to those pink boxing gloves, that left hand, the plummet to the kitchen floor, which apparently looked a lot worse than it was, and the subsequent goal celebration at Old Trafford that poked fun at his own glass jaw.
“It’s funny, actually, but my wife went to pick up my lad from school and saw him doing that celebration in the classroom,” he offered through a smile. “No, I’m sure you won’t be seeing that again.”
Rooney has endured another wave of gags about the playful punch-up at his Cheshire home with his former Manchester United team-mate Phil Bardsley over five days preparing for the resumption of his country’s Euro 2016 qualification campaign.
However, while impromptu sparring is now off the agenda, the captain has acknowledged a different kind of fight lies ahead. The 29-year-old loiters only a hat-trick shy of equallingBobby Charlton’s record 49-goal tally for England and aspires to add to his haul against opponents ranked 94th in the world at a sold-out Wembley but he senses challenges being mounted all around.
Roy Hodgson has lost Daniel Sturridge to a worrying "slight tear" to his hip this week but still boasts Danny Welbeck – a player with five goals in four qualifiers this season – and Raheem Sterling in his 23-man party.
Rise of Kane
Then there is
Harry Kane
, the Premier League’s joint leading scorer and such a revelation since establishing himself as a starter in the Tottenham Hotspur first team just before the November internationals.
Kane could make his senior debut at some stage tonight but the new-found depth of options upfront has left the management encouraged and the senior forward galvanised. Rooney has spent a prolonged period operating in deep-lying midfield at United but has scored six international goals in as many games this term.
Yet even he does not feel assured of his place.
“Throughout my career I’ve never met up with England believing I’m a guaranteed starter, so I work hard in every training session and on the pitch to make sure I keep my place,” he said. “It’s great having Harry Kane come through and Danny and Daniel and Raheem Sterling, who can play upfront. It makes me want to work harder because they’re exceptional talents but I’m not coming here to give my place up. I want to play and keep my place, so I’ll work as hard as them, harder than them, to make sure I’m in that team. Without a doubt, it’s the strongest group of strikers. We’re all doing well fighting for those one or two places available up front.”
Forward potential
The national side suddenly feel blessed with potential upfront, given players such as Saido Berahino and Danny Ings were selected in the under-21s. Rooney’s place in the set-up was never properly threatened but his recent burst of rewards for United, plundered largely once he had benefited, has been timely. There have been five goals and a missed penalty in his past seven appearances.
Hodgson admitted he was “delighted” to see his captain return to his preferred role, and his options revolve around the man who will gain his 102nd cap against Lithuania.
There is a certain loyalty to Welbeck, whose 32 caps have yielded 12 goals and whose industry and pace operating off Rooney have compensated for Sturridge’s absence.
Critical
The manager is expected to play 4-3-3, a system to which he reverted from a diamond at half-time against Slovenia in November when the contest had been goalless. Sterling would operate wide right in the front three, his energy complementing that of Welbeck on the other side. Against relatively limited opponents, the Liverpool player’s ability to dribble through tight spaces may be critical.
The implication was Kane may have to wait for his chance, the likelier start to follow in Tuesday's friendly against Italy in Turin. But a full house will be eager to witness the Spurs player's first appearance. The management will hope the new boy is introduced with the contest long since settled, allowing him to ease himself into life at this level. – (Guardian service)
