England legend Sir Geoff Hurst feels that current Three Lions skipper Wayne Rooney is a “true great”, but he still has some way to go before he can be compared to Sir Bobby Charlton.

Rooney is just one short of Charlton’s 49 goals for the England national team and the Manchester United forward is expected to surpass the 1966 World Cup winner’s goal tally when the Three Lions face San Marino and Switzerland in their upcoming fixtures.




The 30-year-old has struggled with his form this season, and is yet to find the back of the net from the Red Devils’ first four games of the ongoing Premier League campaign, though he netted a hat-trick in the Champions League.

Hurst, who remains the only player to have scored a hat-trick in a World Cup final, has labelled Rooney a true great of the game.
 


"Rooney's a true great”, Hurst was quoted as saying by the BBC.

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However, he went on to add that comparisons between Rooney and Charlton are unwarranted as the 77-year-old's goals came while he plied his trade in midfield unlike the current Manchester United captain – who plays up front.

Hurst also added that winning a World Cup puts Charlton on a higher pedestal than Rooney.

"But there is a little way to go, when you make comparisons as players.

"Figure-wise, of course, if he goes above him it's a great achievement, no question at all.

"The only thing I would say is if you're making comparisons, Wayne is a front player, whereas Bobby Charlton scored 49 goals as a midfield player.

"It just shows you the astonishing ability of Sir Robert Charlton.

"It's not only their ability, it's what they achieved in the game, and of course Bobby Charlton was the member of a World Cup winning team, which Wayne's not yet.

“There's that differential there, which I would always argue."