Manchester United and England star Wayne Rooney has hit back at accusations from former teammate Paul Scholes that his best years are behind him.
The pair were together at Old Trafford for nine years but that has not stopped Scholes from laying into the forward and suggesting that Rooney is past his peak.
The current Manchester United player does not agree with that view however, and has angrily responded ahead of England’s final World Cup warm up game against Honduras on Saturday.
“I’m not interested – he’s got his opinions so let’s leave it at that,” Rooney told press in Miami.
“He’s been a teammate but he’s been away from the first team for a long time.
“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.”
England head into their clash with Honduras in Miami off the back of a Wembley win over Peru and a determined draw against Ecuador.
Rooney was deployed on the left wing against Ecuador and it’s a position he believes he doesn’t need to be told how to play.
“I know how to play that role – I’ve played it many times and I have no problem doing that,” he said.
“I can play in different positions. I’ve proved that over the years.
“It’s not about me it’s about the team. If the manager wants me to play up top, in behind, left, right, I’m happy to do that.”
Manchester United defenders Phil Jones and Chris Smalling were the chosen centre back pairing against Ecuador earlier in the week, but neither pressed their claim for selection and are likely to be replaced by defensive duo Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka against Honduras.
With England’s opening game of the World Cup on June 14, Roy Hodgson is likely to name a side as close to his first choice team as he can to fine tune preparations for Italy in Manaus.
That will probably mean that Manchester City’s James Milner will drop back to the bench while United’s Danny Welbeck could be restored on the left wing.
For Honduras, Wigan’s Roger Espinoza will hope to feature and press his claims for inclusion in their opening group game against France on June 15.
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