England manager Roy Hodgson has insisted that he has not yet made a decision as to whether captain Wayne Rooney will start in his side's Euro 2016 opener against Russia on June 11.
The Manchester United skipper was included in Hodgson's provisional 26-man squad for the tournament earlier today, but faces competition from the likes of Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy and Dele Alli for a starting role.
Rooney is comfortably the most experienced member of the squad with 109 caps and a record 51 goals for his country, but Hodgson hinted that performances in upcoming friendlies against Turkey, Australia and Portugal could determine who gets the nod.
"I don't have to decide that yet. Wayne Rooney has done a fantastic job for England - 109 games, 51 goals... that's one terrific record and there aren't many players in Europe, at international level, who reach that level of success," he told reporters.
"He's been very important to us in the qualifiers and we're very grateful for the goals he's scored and the work he's done for us. But in terms of selecting a team for Russia, I've got three matches before that. Who knows what will happen in between?
"To my knowledge he isn't saying 'I am demanding I play in the opening game'. He's not demanding that he plays in this position in the opening game, and I'm under no pressure whatsoever to select him in the opening game unless I feel he's the best man for the job."
Rooney has scored almost twice as many goals for England as the rest of the Euro 2016 squad combined, but managed just seven for Manchester United this season - the first time that he has failed to hit double figures for the club.
Barney Corkhill
