Wayne Rooney says it would make sense to call up Danny Welbeck and leave Harry Kane out of the next England squad.
Three Lions coach Thomas Tuchel names his group on Friday for the World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania. England have already qualified and Rooney believes Bayern Munich striker Kane would benefit from a rest, while Welbeck deserves a call-up after six goals in 10 Premier League games for Brighton.
“He scores goals, he works hard, he’s going through a bad patch and he’s put himself in a position where Thomas Tuchel will definitely have to look at him,” Rooney said. in the last episode from his podcast The Wayne Rooney Show.
“Behind Harry Kane, he is the fittest English striker. He has given himself a chance.”
Welbeck hopes to end seven-year absence from the England team
Welbeck has not played for England since 2018 but has again had the chance to add to his 42 caps, especially with Kane’s usual substitutes, Oliver Watkins and Ivan Toney, out of form or out of sight.
Tuchel has made a great move by picking players he believes will add to the dynamic of the group (Jordan Henderson and Dan Burn, to name two) and Rooney says Welbeck, who will be 35 when the World Cup rolls around next summer, would also fall into that category.
“I’m not saying I’d accept being on the bench, but Ollie Watkins and players like them who are trying to get into the team, they’re still young enough and they want to push Kane for that starting spot,” Rooney said of his former Manchester United teammate.
“A bit like Jordan Henderson, he would use his experience with the players. He is popular with his teammates wherever he has been, but he also has the ability to turn up and have an impact.”
Kane needs a break – Rooney
England secured their place in the United States, Canada and Mexico last month with a 5-0 win in Latvia and Rooney believes it would be sensible to give Kane a break, especially with Bayern challenging in the Bundesliga and Champions League.
Rooney said: “In England’s next two games, I wouldn’t even call Kane up. Give him a rest.”
“There aren’t many opportunities between now and the end of the season, when he rests. Let him rest and go watch Welbeck, Watkins or Ivan Toney. Whoever you want to watch, give these players a chance to try to play.”
