National team boss says striker is ready in body and mind.
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England manager Roy Hodgson has said that wantaway Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is fit enough to play against Scotland later this week, talkSPORT reports.
The 27-year-old has made it known that he is unhappy at the club and is desperately seeking a move away from Old Trafford with Chelsea mooted as his most likely destination.
So far United have rejected two offers from the west London outfit for Rooney’s services and he has seen his involvement in the side’s pre season campaign come to nothing as speculation continues to mount, however, Hodgson has claimed that the player will be ready to face Scotland on Wednesday and plans to pick him accordingly.
“Wayne is keen to play football again. He’s had a pre-season hampered by injures and I knew he would be keen to play [in this game],” Hodgson said.
“His mind is fine. He can compartmentalise club and country, which I expect all players to be able to do. If players are going to play and do a good job, they can’t bring club problems to England or, if there are any, take England problems back to their clubs. They are two separate identities.
“I expect players when they come here to be fully focused on playing for England and doing a good job for England, and when that stint is over and they go back they become 100% club players again.”
Even though Rooney has not featured for United during the off season, Hodgson has said that is he is confident that he will play some part of the game against the ‘auld enemy’ at Wembley.
“It’s been well documented that he hasn’t had much chance to improve his match fitness in this pre-season period but his enthusiasm for playing is even greater than usual, and it’s always very high,” he added.
“We always have to keep the reins on him because he is the first out on the training pitch and the last one off it, but he was very good this morning. Let’s hope by Wednesday he’ll be able to play some part in the game.
“I think he’s fit enough to start. We’ll see how he reacts to today’s session because it might have been a bit more intensive than he’s been able to do during his recovery from injury, but if there is no reaction and he comes through tomorrow OK then I’ll speak to him and we can make a decision.
“Whether he starts or comes on later in the game is less important to me than that he’s ready to play and hopefully will be able to play for us next month, which are the games which really pre-occupy me.
“I’m looking forward to this game but it’s a preparatory game for the World Cup qualifiers.”