Wayne Rooney is no longer England’s number one striker, says former national team captain Alan Shearer.
England skipper and leading all-time goalscorer Rooney has been named in the provisional 26-man squad for Euro 2016.
“There was always going to be a place for the captain and rightly so,” he said. “But the days of Wayne being the number one striker are gone.”
‘Match of the Day’ pundit Shearer, who was top scorer at the European Championship 20 years ago, added: “He’s still got a lot to offer.
“I think Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy deserve to have their chance up front but I still think Wayne has a part to play, whether that is in midfield or the number 10 role.”
Manchester United forward Rooney was one of five strikers named by Roy Hodgson in his squad on Monday, along with Tottenham’s Kane, Leicester’s Vardy, Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge and another Manchester United player, Marcus Rashford.
Newcastle winger Andros Townsend and Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere have also been called up, with Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Chris Smalling (Manchester United) and John Stones (Everton) the three centre-backs selected.
“Defensively would be my one worry for England,” said Shearer. “I would be confident with us going forward and in midfield but the old Achilles heel is defensively – certainly down the middle at centre-half, which has been a problem for a number of years. We don’t seem to have been able to solve that.”
