Daley Blind Backs Wayne Rooney For England Place

 

Manchester United player Daley Blind has insisted that England captain Wayne Rooney still has the quality to regain his place in the starting line-up for Euro 2016. Rooney, England's captain and record goal-scorer, faces a fight for his place in the England team when he returns from a knee injury, despite breaking Sir Bobby Charlton's international goal-scoring record in September, when scoring his 50th goal for his country.

The impressive scoring form of Tottenham striker Harry Kane and Leicester's Jamie Vardy, who have 21 and 19 Premier League goals between them compared to Rooney's seven have put pressure on his position as England's main striker. The option of Rooney dropping into a deeper role has been made trickier due to the form of Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli, who was man of the match in England's last game at Wembley against France in November, and shone again in Saturday night's win against Germany in Berlin.

Blind, who will face England at Wembley on Tuesday when they host the Netherlands, believes Rooney should still start for England at this summer's tournament, as long as he has recovered fully from his current injury. He said “I think if a player like Wayne Rooney is fit, he is a very special player, and he can make any team in the world better. When he is fit you'll definitely need him and he'll bring something very special to the team. He has some exceptional qualities, and I think his place in the England team shouldn't be in question”.