England legend Peter Shilton has indicated that the national team are trying too hard to accommodate Wayne Rooney and feels the Manchester United man should have retired from international football after this summer’s European Championship.
Rooney became the most capped outfield player for England when he turned out for the Three Lions in their 1-0 win over Slovakia at the weekend, and is rapidly closing on Shilton’s record of 125 caps for the national team.
While his club manager Jose Mourinho has insisted that Rooney is never a midfield player for him, Sam Allardyce is appearing to persist with his predecessor Roy Hodgson’s idea of playing the forward in the middle of the park.
And Shilton stressed that Rooney can never be an effective midfielder, despite his diminishing powers up front as a striker.
The 66-year-old goalkeeping legend added that he is not concerned about Rooney closing in on his record for England, but feels the national team are carrying their captain, who he believes should have retired from international football after the disastrous European Championship.
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"I don't think he's a striker anymore", Shilton told the BBC.
"We are trying to fit him in, but he's not a midfield player for me. Never will be.
"He is spraying a few balls around, but I don't think he's being very effective.
"I thought he should have retired after the Euros.
"It's not because he could break my record. Far from it. It he does and he plays well, fine."
Rooney has so far brushed aside criticism of his performances for both club and country and wants to represent England in the World Cup in Russia two years later.
