Lineker says Tottenham and Manchester United strikers have switched in England’s hierarchy.
Gary Lineker has told The Mirror that he now views Harry Kane as England’s main man, and Wayne Rooney is no longer a crucial part of the team.
Rooney has been overshadowed by Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy this season, and has even lost his spot in United’s first team up front to Marcus Rashford.
Instead he has been deployed in midfield lately, and Lineker believes England boss Roy Hodgson will be hard pressed to select Rooney ahead of Kane up front for the Three Lions.
He said: “I don’t think he is crucial now. I don’t want that to be taken in the wrong way, but I think there are all sorts of options up front for Roy now.
“He has got Harry Kane — it would be hard not to pick Harry, he is probably the best centre forward we have got right now.
“All of a sudden we have got different options up front and we are not so dependent on Wayne.”
Kane has scored 24 Premier League goals this season, while Rooney has just seven strikes in the division.
This may be the same season that Rooney set England’s all-time scoring record and captained the team during qualification, but Hodgson should not be afraid to leave him on the bench and hand the armband over to one of his teammates.
On form Rooney does not even deserve to make the squad, but his reputation, experience, and standing within the squad means he is a certainty to be picked, but Lineker’s comments underline that he is no longer the main goal threat.
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