Wayne Rooney not selected for England, Jermain Defoe called up

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• March 14th 2017
• 3 days ago
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Wayne Rooney of Manchester United shows dejection.

GARETH Southgate admits England captain Wayne Rooney’s lack of playing time at Manchester United has contributed to his omission from a squad featuring several shock inclusions.

Southgate revealed that Rooney could return from a short-term knee lay-off at the weekend, though England’s record scorer was absent from the 26-man group the Three Lions boss has named to face Germany and Lithuania the following week.

Jermain Defoe, Jake Livermore and Luke Shaw were all included, as were four uncapped players, and Southgate conceded Rooney’s exclusion can in part be attributed to his limited opportunities under Jose Mourinho.

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The 31-year-old has started four games in 2017 and only last month he released a statement stating he would be remaining at Old Trafford despite interest from the Chinese Super League.

“I’ve talked with Wayne and I think there’s a chance he’s fit for the weekend,” Southgate said.

“But also, the injury, coupled with the fact he’s really not had a lot of game time recently, and others have in that area of the pitch, has sort of determined my decision on that one.”

Sunderland's Jermain Defoe was called up in place of Wayne Rooney for England.Source:AP

Rooney’s absence is even more surprising given the depleted options Southgate has in attack as Harry Kane and Daniel Sturridge are both out injured. That has led to a recall for 35-year-old Sunderland striker Defoe four years on from the last of his 55 caps, as well as teenager Marcus Rashford’s presence in the senior squad.

Kane is the only English player to have plundered more Premier League goals than Defoe this term and Southgate views his age as just a number. “It was important not to look at somebody’s age and dismiss them from your thinking,” Southgate said.

“His goalscoring record generally is phenomenal, but in particular this season in a team that perhaps aren’t creating as many chances as other teams. His strike-rate is outstanding.

Meanwhile, for Wales, Liverpool youngster Ben Woodburn has received a call-up to the senior national team.

Liverpool's Ben Woodburn has been called up to the Wales national team squad.Source:AFP

Just 17, Woodburn has made seven appearances for the Reds this season, including becoming the club’s youngest ever goalscorer, and joins the likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey who return from injury.

FULL WALES NATIONAL TEAM SQUAD

Wayne Hennessey, Danny Ward, Owain Fon Williams, Ben Davies, James Chester, James Collins, Joe Walsh, Chris Gunter, Jazz Richards, Neil Taylor, Ashley Williams, Joe Allen, David Edwards, Andy King, Tom Lawrence, Joe Ledley, Shaun MacDonald, Aaron Ramsey, Gareth Bale, Hal Robson-Kanu, Tom Bradshaw, Sam Vokes, Ben Woodburn

FULL ENGLAND NATIONAL TEAM SQUAD

Fraser Forster (Southampton), Joe Hart (Torino/ITA, on loan from Manchester City), Tom Heaton (Burnley) Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Michael Keane (Burnley), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur) Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Michail Antonio (West Ham United), Ross Barkley (Everton), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Jake Livermore (West Bromwich Albion), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Nathan Redmond (Southampton), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton) Jermain Defoe (Sunderland), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)

FULL PORTUGAL NATIONAL TEAM SQUAD

Rui Patricio (Sporting), Anthony Lopes (Lyon/FRA), Marafona (Sporting Braga) Nelson Semedo (Benfica), Joao Cancelo (Valence/ESP), Cédric Soares (Southampton/ENG), Pepe (Real Madrid/ESP), Bruno Alves (Cagliari/ITA), Luis Neto (Zenith/RUS), José Fonte (Southampton/ENG), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund/GER), Eliseu (Benfica) William Carvalho (Sporting), Danilo Pereira (FC Porto), Joao Moutinho (Monaco/FRA), Pizzi (Benfica), Renato Sanches (Bayern Munich/GER), Joao Mario (Inter Milan/ITA), André Gomes (FC Barcelone/ESP) Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/ESP), Bernardo Silva (Monaco/FRA), Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas/TUR), Gelson Martins (Sporting), Eder (Lille/FRA), André Silva (FC Porto)

Originally published as Rooney’s England snub, shock inclusion preferred