Jermain Defoe says England will miss Wayne Rooney – but they ‘have to look forward’

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Simon Johnson30 August 2017

Jermain Defoe believes England could come to rue Wayne Rooney's decision to quit international football.

Rooney announced his retirement from England duty in a statement last week, despite coach Gareth Southgate hoping to recall him to the squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Malta and Slovakia.

The 31-year-old is England's all-time leading scorer with 53 goals from 119 appearances, the last of which was in November 2016.

Rooney has started the season well since returning to Everton, scoring two goals in his first three League appearances, and Defoe feels England will miss one of their greatest players.

He said: "Wayne will be missed. He has a lot of experience and in terms of international goals and caps, he is at the top.

"As a striker you get judged on scoring goals and to be the record England scorer is something special.

"To get in the squad at a young age (Rooney's first cap was at 17), to have a lot of pressure on your shoulders, more than other players to be honest, is never easy. To be that consistent for all those years means he deserves a lot of credit.

"It does feel strange because I have been in the squad with Wayne for a number of years and I got on well with him. Away from football, he is such a nice guy.

Photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Alex Livesey/Getty Images

"In a way you can understand it, he has done so much for England and had a great career. I respect his decision. We have to look forward now, but I wish him all the best for the future."

Gareth Southgate on Wayne Rooney's international retirement

At the start of England's World Cup qualifying campaign a year ago, Rooney announced that he wanted to play on until the tournament in Russia next year.

But Rooney has had a change of heart, insisting that he wants to concentrate on club football.

In contrast, Defoe, who turns 35 in October, is still as hungry as ever to represent his country and is doing everything possible to play in another major championships.

The former Tottenham and West Ham striker added: "For some people it's different and they have different objectives.

"Some players get in their 30s and would prefer to concentrate on club football. For them, maybe if they play less football it will help them play better for their club.

"I don't think the age thing really matters. You have to respect his decision, he has done so much and has nothing to prove for club or country."

With four games remaining, England lead their closest challengers in Group F, Slovakia, by two points, with Slovenia a further point behind.

Southgate's side face Slovakia at Wembley on Monday night, three days after playing away at minnows Malta.

Defoe feels these two fixtures give England a great opportunity to virtually secure top spot.

Rooney's England career in numbers

"We met up on Sunday evening and we are going to try to do everything right, tick every box to get two wins," he said.

"After that we will be one step closer to the World Cup and I'm really looking forward to that.

"It won't be easy, but people will expect us to win them. You can't take any team lightly. You have to prepare exactly the same whether it's France, Spain or whoever. That's what we're doing."