Free role for Rooney

TRNAVA. — Wayne Rooney has become England’s most-capped outfield player in history.

The Manchester United captain made his 116th appearance for England as their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign began against Slovakia on Sunday.

Rooney has moved one ahead of David Beckham, who played 115 games for the Three Lions, but the striker is still behind Peter Shilton, who won 125 caps for England.

The 30-year-old was given his record start against Slovakia by new manager Sam Allardyce, who opted to pair the United striker in attack with Tottenham’s Harry Kane.

Rooney made his debut for England in a friendly against Australia in 2003, and at the time was the youngest player in the nation’s history to make his bow before Theo Walcott made his first international appearance in 2006.

The United forward also holds the record for the most goals scored for England (53) and the most appearances in competitive matches (70).

And Allardyce has vowed to defer to captain Rooney over his positioning after starting life as England soccer manager with a last-gasp 1-0 win over Slovakia in World Cup qualifying.

Adam Lallana snatched a 95th-minute winner against 10-man Slovakia in Trnava on Sunday to prevent Allardyce from becoming the first England manager since Bobby Robson in 1982 not to win his first game.

Rooney, making a record 116th appearance for an England outfield player, adopted a deep-lying midfield role for much of the game despite Allardyce having said he would play in a number 10 position.

But Allardyce said: “This is the most decorated outfield player in England. He’s won everything at Man United, more or less, and at Champions League and domestic level.

“He holds a lot more experience at international football than me as an international manager.

“So using his experience with a team, and playing as a team member, it’s not for me to say where he’s going to play.

“It’s up to me to (ask): ‘Are you playing well in that position? And if you are playing well and contributing, that’s great.’

“Yes, I’d like him to get forward a bit more. He’s been a goalscorer all his life and I want him still to score goals, but he reads a game as he reads it.” — AFP.