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England captain Wayne Rooney faces a three-way fight to earn a spot on the right wing in Roy Hodgson’s Euro 2016 starting lineup, according to The Mirror.
The Mirror claims that Hodgson will resist picking England’s all-time leading goalscorer on reputation and will only start the 30-year-old if he is fit and firing.
And, if the Manchester United skipper does make the XI for England’s opening game against Russia in Marseille on June 11, it reportedly will not be in one of his preferred central roles.
The Mirror understands that Hodgson has settled on Tottenham Hotspur duo Harry Kane and Dele Alli as his striker-and-No.10 combination for the tournament.
Therefore Rooney is believed to be in a three-way fight with Leicester City forward Jamie Vardy and Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling to start on the right.
Of that trio, Sterling is the only natural winger, so it seems that Hodgson is willing to fit square pegs in round holes to fit England’s most talented players in the team.
The Mirror adds that Arsenal star Danny Welbeck will complete the attacking lineup on the left. There is no mention of Liverpool’s Adam Lallana in Hodgson’s plans.
Rooney made his comeback from a two-month injury layoff in United’s FA Cup win over West Ham United on Wednesday and could continue his rehabilitation against Aston Villa today.
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