Wayne Rooney has insisted that he will not be tempted out of international retirement for one more shot at World Cup glory in Russia next summer.
The former England captain called time on his international career in August, but Gareth Southgate had said there was a possibility he would invite Rooney to come out of retirement for the 2018 World Cup if England qualify.
Rooney, who was charged with drink driving on Friday, appeared to rule out that possibility, saying it would be unfair on his former team-mates to return for the tournament alone.
“My mind’s made up,” Rooney told talkSPORT. “I’ve seen it a few times when players come out of retirement and gone to tournaments and it’s not right.
“I think the lads now who are trying to qualify for Russia, if they get there then they’re the players who will deserve to play in the tournament, so my decision is made.”
In an interview that will be broadcast on Sunday afternoon, Rooney also claimed that Fabio Capello and his backroom team cheered Italy on at England’s 2010 World Cup training camp.
“At the World Cup in South Africa, Fabio and his coaches were watching Italy play and they were jumping up and cheering when Italy scored and he’s there as England manager,” Rooney said.
England’s record goalscorer retired after scoring 53 goals in 119 games for his country and taking part in three World Cups and three European Championships.
Rooney returned to Everton in the summer, scoring in his first two Premier League games back at his boyhood club, but controversy struck when he was arrested in the early hours of Friday morning and charged with drink driving. He is due to appear at Stockport magistrates’ court on 18 September.
Henderson retains captaincy for Slovakia clash
Jordan Henderson will lead England out for the crucial World Cup qualifier against Slovakia at Wembley on Monday, where manager Gareth Southgate wants his players to bring the crowd to their feet.
Liverpool midfielder Henderson led the team in Malta on Friday, where a 4-0 victory belied a disappointing performance that was booed by some travelling fans.
Victory would take England five points clear of Slovakia with two games to play, and the England manager wants the Wembley crowd to get behind his team.
Southgate said there was “no point in changing” the captaincy, even though he has yet to appoint a full-time skipper following Wayne Rooney’s international retirement, so Henderson keeps the armband.
“It’s a great opportunity for us, a home game. We are playing good opposition so we’ve got to make sure we are tactically prepared, which we will be, but also we’ve got to have belief in the team that we’ve got,” Southgate said.
“It’s a great opportunity for the Wembley crowd to get behind us as well. We have a responsibility to get them on their feet,” he added.
“This result can virtually get us to Russia so everybody wants that and it would be great if we get the level of support that I know that stadium can bring.”