England boss Roy Hodgson has confirmed that Wayne Rooney will remain as captain going into the Euro 2016.

The Manchester United striker has suffered from poor form in the last two years. He has managed only 51 goals in 109 appearances for the national team even though he has broken a long-standing Bobby Charlton’s scoring record in the process. Those records broken will count for little if the player once again fails to perform at a major tournament. Hodgson is extremely pleased with the numerous options that he has for the striker position.

The emergence of players like Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane provides him with a real alternative to the likes of Wayne Rooney or Daniel Sturridge. This has led to suggestions that Rooney’s position in the squad for the Euro 2016 is doubtful. After all, the player has scored only 11 goals in 30 appearances for United. This could very well be the last European Championship for Rooney, who will be 34 by the time the next tournament kicks off, and he will want to be a part of it without doubt. Hodgson has confirmed that the 30-year-old striker will remain as his captain, thus ending speculation about leaving Rooney out of the squad altogether for the Euro 2016.

"I have to repeat Wayne is our captain and he has captained the team extremely well in the past two years.He took us through a qualifying campaign where we had a complete success with 10 wins out out 10. It doesn't please me too much that it is suggested now that the moment he is injured and doesn't play he gets jettisoned in some way. He doesn't deserve that," said Hodgson. Rooney was absent for the recent 3-2 win over Germany in a friendly. Harry Kane and Vardy scored a goal each in this win.