Rooney ‘must work to return’

Fabio Capello has warned Wayne Rooney that he will not be automatically recalled to the England team after serving his suspension at the European Championship next year.

Capello said yesterday that he did not plan to start Rooney in any of the warm-up games before June’s tournament following the striker’s red card in Montenegro on Friday.

Uefa will decide on Thursday whether Rooney serves the minimum one-match ban or any additional games at the finals in Ukraine and Poland, but coach Capello stressed that he would not necessarily walk back into the side whatever the suspension. “I need to find the solution for the first game, or two games, that Rooney will not play,” he said. “And if we find that solution, he needs to work to return to the first 11.

“I try to select the best players, in the best moment of form. There were two I did not select for this game who are doing really well. I saw the game that Jermain Defoe played against Arsenal. He did really well. Daniel Sturridge is the same.

“I could leave Rooney out. If the others are good they will play. In my life as a manager I have put on the bench a lot of good players.”

Capello defended 25-year-old Rooney after the match and has said that the striker would remain part of the squad, but there is no doubting his anger at what was a senseless kick on Miodrag Dzudovic 17 minutes from the end. England, needing just a point to seal their place at next year’s finals, were leading 2-1 at the time before being pegged back to 2-2 in the final minute.

Capello also revealed that Rooney, who has now been sent off twice for England, would also miss their friendly with world champions Spain at Wembley next month.