Former England striker Wayne Rooney has hailed Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice as a “future captain” of the Three Lions after watching the 26-year-old assist the Gunners return to the highest of the Premier League with victory at Everton.
Rooney, who captained England for 3 years from 2014 to 2017, was on the Hill Dickinson Stadium to see Mikel Arteta’s facet safe a .
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Rice, who has gained 72 caps at senior worldwide stage, has worn the armband twice earlier than within the absence of present skipper Harry Kane – in a 2-2 draw with Belgium in March 2024 and a 3-0 win over Wales in October this yr.
“For me, he is the one who’s in all probability ready for Harry to hold up his boots in some unspecified time in the future,” Rooney mentioned within the newest episode of BBC Sport’s The Wayne Rooney Present.
“He was all around the pitch [against Everton]. His decision-making – when to move it, the place to move it, what foot to move it to, his element on his move – it was a pleasure to observe. He was completely unimaginable.
“He was splitting centre-backs, taking the ball off [Arsenal’s] centre-backs, appearing as a 3rd centre-back, then subsequent minute he is within the field, making an attempt to attain a aim. Typically, among the stuff he does is a bit underrated.
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“He is the precise one to take over [Kane] for me, as a result of [of] his drive, his character. Everybody appears to like him, who is aware of him, who’s near him. He is irreplaceable for England.”
‘No motive’ why Calvert-Lewin should not get World Cup ‘alternative’
Wayne Rooney performed with Dominic Calvert-Lewin throughout his second spell a Everton [Getty Images]
After a tough begin to his Leeds United profession, Rooney’s former Everton team-mate Dominic Calvert-Lewin has hit a purple patch in latest weeks.
The 28-year-old had scored simply as soon as in 10 league appearances previous to Leeds’ 3-2 defeat at Manchester Metropolis final month however has now discovered the online in every of his previous 5 outings, scoring twice in .
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Rooney feels the striker might but power his approach into Thomas Tuchel’s squad for subsequent summer time’s World Cup within the USA, Mexico and Canada.
“If he continues this, then there is not any motive why he should not be talked about – and even get a chance – to go to the World Cup, purely due to the dearth of forwards England have gotten,” Rooney mentioned.
“He competes, he is nice within the air, he is good in each packing containers. When he is in a run of kind and scoring targets like he’s, he is a handful to play in opposition to.
“You neglect, he is nonetheless fairly younger, he is nonetheless acquired a bit left in him and also you neglect how good a participant he’s.”
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Calvert-Lewin scored 71 targets throughout his time at Everton however solely discovered the online thrice in his last season with the membership, lacking over three months of the marketing campaign with a hamstring damage.
“I believe Everton made the precise choice [to let him go],” Rooney continued. “Over the previous couple of seasons, he was by no means match, actually, and he was out of contract.
“It could have been very tough for Everton to provide him a brand new contract together with his damage report, however he is gone to Leeds, saved himself match. The physios are doing an excellent job with him there.”
Gyokeres ‘ does greater than what you see’
Viktor Gyokeres’ winner in opposition to Everton was his seventh aim of the season in all competitions [Getty Images]
Regardless of scoring the one aim in opposition to David Moyes’ facet, Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres has struggled for kind since his summer time transfer from Sporting.
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The Sweden worldwide’s emphatic penalty was his seventh aim in all competitions this season – and first since a 2-0 victory at Burnley on 1 November.
Rooney, although, feels Gyokeres mustn’t solely be judged by his goalscoring report.
“He does a bit greater than what you see,” he mentioned. “Even [on Saturday], he occupies the 2 centre-backs, [James] Tarkowski and Michael Keane. That creates a bit extra space to your quantity 10 or your large gamers who’re coming inside.
“I believe he is vital for Arsenal. He is doing a job which helps different gamers, he simply hasn’t acquired the targets which you’d anticipate from him.
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“You perhaps do not see it, it is not eye-catching, however he does occupy the centre-back. Can he be higher? In fact he can. Ought to he rating extra targets taking part in in that workforce? Yeah, he ought to.
“However I believe if Arsenal go on to win the league, then he’ll have had a giant position to play, undoubtedly.”