England’s new caretaker boss Gareth Southgate will hold talks with Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney on Thursday.
The Mirror report the Three Lions skipper got in contact with Southgate on Wednesday as he was worried about his status as captain after he was dropped by Jose Mourinho as Man United eased past Leicester City on Saturday.
However, given the lack of experience in the England squad and the controversy surrounding the Three Lions at the moment, it remains to be seen if Southgate will make a decision regarding the issue of captaincy.
The Mirror also report that Southgate will name his first England squad in two days time. The former Middlesbrough manager is in charge of the Three Lions for the next four games which will see them face Malta, Slovenia, Scotland and Spain.
Meanwhile, Rooney will now be focusing on regaining his place in the Man United starting XI but it remains to be seen if he will start against Zorya this evening.
Meanwhile, the Daily Mail report that the Red Devils skipper will be named on the bench by Mourinho.
The United boss believes the debate surrounding Wayne Rooney’s place in the team means his captain cannot afford another bad game.
Rooney was dropped to the bench for United’s 4-1 win over Leicester at Old Trafford on Saturday after a series of mediocre performances.
Mourinho has revealed he had pencilled in the 30-year-old to start the Europa League clash with Zorya Luhansk on Thursday.
But after Rooney picked up a back injury which meant he could not train with the rest of the group on Monday or Tuesday, Mourinho insists he may have ‘protect’ his captain by keeping him out of the spotlight for the second game in succession.
He said: “Rooney is selected. He didn’t train on Tuesday. He did a little bit of a session on Monday. He had a back problem. Wednesday was the first time he had a training session with the other players.
“The training session’s intensity and complexity was reduced because we have a game.
“I was completely convinced from playing him tomorrow from the beginning with his situation in the last couple of games, but I’m not sure I will do that because of the situation you create to him.
“I think he really can’t afford to have a performance that is not really good.
“I’m here to protect him and not to put him in different situations. I have to analyse the best thing for him is to start the game.
“I’m going to discuss that with him and the medical staff and decide if he starts or is on the bench.”