England vs Malta: Gareth Southgate urges players to ease weight of expectation on captain Wayne Rooney
Southgate remarked that too much emphasis is being placed on Rooney and added that this pressure needs to be shared if England are to be successful
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Your support makes all the difference.Gareth Southgate has urged his England players to alleviate the burden of expectancy on Wayne Rooney after insisting the under-fire captain will keep his starting place for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Malta.
Rooney, 31 later this month, is set to start in midfield against the Maltese, who are ranked alongside Laos in 176th position in the Fifa World Rankings.
The Manchester United forward has admitted he is now keen to make transition from striker to midfielder, but his recent performances in a deeper role have led to criticism from supporters and pundits.
Southgate, taking charge of the senior team for the first time in the wake of Sam Allardyce’s departure after just one game at the helm, has confirmed that Rooney will start, however, despite the growing doubts over his ability to influence the game at international level.
“Wayne will play,” Southgate said. “I've got to look at the balance of the team and I've got to look at the squad we have, including the balance of personalities and leadership that you want.
“We've got a couple of players, also, who are coming back from injury who we have to look across the two games.
“There are any number of reasons and rationale when you are selecting the team, but I'm really happy with the way all the squad have trained this week and to see the guys play.”
Rooney’s selection is the most contentious issue for Southgate with the player having lost his starting spot at Old Trafford under Jose Mourinho.
The interim manager insists that Rooney’s versatility is crucial to the team, but he claims the time has come for the rest of the players to take the pressure off England’s all-time leading goalscorer.
“We're putting too much emphasis on one person,” Southgate said. “If these guys are going to be a successful team, that's got to be shared.
“These guys have to be given the opportunity to lead, to grow even if it's not a comfortable situation.
“They have to take responsibility. All 11 guys on the field will succeed if they do as well as they can together.”
Southgate added: “My belief is that Wayne can play in several different positions, but what has stood out for me this week are his observations on the game.
“He's someone who clearly studies the game very closely. His observations have really impressed me.
“His leadership and maturity have really impressed me. I couldn't be happier with his approach to things.”
England will play in front of a sell-out crowd at Wembley against Malta in what will be the team’s first appearance on home turf since the Euro 2016 humiliation against Iceland.
With Malta ranked as one of football’s minnows, Southgate admits his team will be expected to win comfortably in front of their home crowd.
But the former Middlesbrough manager insists there will be a need for patience against an opponent likely to defend in numbers tonight.
“I think people will genuinely want to see the team do well, they are excited by a young team with great potential,” he said.
“I know a game went against them in the summer, which was difficult for everyone to take, but people recognise the quality is there and people have pride in playing for England. That's what I have seen this week.
“They do want to make the country proud and are frustrated by what happened in the summer, but the only way to restore that is to build up consistent performances.
“I've been that soldier in terms of 'you've let your country down.’ I've lived through that, and you're stronger for those difficult experiences.
“It’s only failure if they don't learn and kick on from that, but for me, it's a fresh start.
“They got a super result in Slovakia, which should give them great belief. They broke down a packed defence and went on until the very end of the game, so they're in a good place, a really good place, as far as I can see.
“But we want to control games and we have the technical ability to do that. You have to risk at times, though.
“They won't succeed all the time, but as games go on, you stick to the way we play. And eventually you wear teams down. They can't chase you forever.”
Southgate, meanwhile, is ready to start Manchester United teenager Marcus Rashford tonight after insisting the 18-year-old has proved his ability to succeed on the international stage.
“Having worked with him, what's clear is he takes everything in his stride,” Southgate said. “Everything I've seen suggests he has the temperament, like Theo (Walcott) and Michael (Owen).
“He fits into the group, is keen to learn and hear from the more experienced players, so I wouldn't hesitate to play him.”
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