Rooney not guaranteed England place, insists Hodgson

Roy Hodgson has warned Wayne Rooney that there is “no guarantee” of a place in his England team.

In September, Rooney became England’s all-time leading scorer but his form for Manchester United this season has been patchy with only one Premier League goal to his name so far.

When asked if he could imagine dropping Rooney, the England manager replied: "At the moment, that day has not arrived," Hodgson said when asked if he could ever envisage a time when Rooney could be dropped.

"With any luck it won't arrive because he will continue to play well and he will continue to merit his place and we will still talk as warmly about him after the tournament in June as we are now, but there is no guarantee.

"I have been in football a long time and Wayne Rooney has been in football a long time. He would regard me as someone who is very false if I ever said to him your place is guaranteed.

"He would not expect it, and I would be very upset if anyone asked me to give them a guarantee of a place. No one else has ever done, and I would take umbrage if that day ever arrived."