LONDON: New England manager Sam Allardyce admitted Wayne Rooney has a significant part to play in his plans but refused to give assurances about the player’s future as captain.
Rooney recently expressed a desire to continue as skipper, despite criticism following England’s disastrous campaign at the 2016 European Championship in France.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho last week promised the 30-year-old that he would keep the armband at club level.
But Allardyce, speaking at his first press conference since taking over from Roy Hodgson, did not follow suit.
Instead England’s record goalscorer will have a nervous wait until September when Allardyce will meet his players for the first time ahead of their World Cup qualifier with Slovakia.
“I don’t want to put myself out in the open just yet. It’s a decision that I’ll make once I’ve got my feet under the table,” Allardyce said, when asked if Rooney would retain the captaincy.
“I have got to leave that until we reach all the players and get the coaching staff together and plan for the internationals in September.
“Will I wait until I meet the players? I think so. Put it this way – I still think Wayne Rooney still has a massive place to play in the England side. I don’t think there is any doubt about that.”
