The England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has hit back at suggestions from former team-mate Paul Scholes that he is past his peak.
The 28 –year-old’s place in Roy Hodgsons starting line-up for this summers World Cup in Brazil has come under intense scrutiny in light of Manchester United’s disappointing season.
Scholes, 39, who played alongside Rooney at Old Trafford until his second retirement last May,speculated on whether England’s management team would have the courage to drop him.
His comments sparked a national debate on Rooney’s World Cup role and whether manager Roy Hodgson should pick him in his starting line-up in Brazil.
Former teammates
However, Rooney ended a run of four international matches without scoring in the 2-2 draw with Ecuador in Miami on Wednesday dispite playing out of position on the left wing.
In response to the criticism from Scholes, Rooney said: “I’m not really interested in what anyone else has got to say. I’m interested in what Roy Hodgson, the coaching staff here and the people around me say. People have their opinions but I don’t agree with them.”
Rooney added: “I’ve seen a lot of you saying he’s coached me and been around the team, but he hasn’t. I’m not really going to react.
“He’s been a team-mate but he’s been away from the first team for a long time.
“I’m not interested. He’s got his opinions so let’s leave it at that.”
However, Scholes’ comments are sure to add further fuel to the debate surrounding Rooney’s position in the National side, given the stark contrast in development of former Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, who has progressed at an astronomical rate, and gone on to be named Ballon d’or player of the year this season. Many have considered Rooney to always be on the fringes of realising his potential.
England start their campaign against Italy on 14 June before taking on Uruguay (19 June) and Costa Rica (24 June).