Peter Shilton: Wayne Rooney should have retired

The 30-year-old Manchester United forward has announced his intention to hang up his England boots after the 2018 World Cup in Russia - but Shilton feels he should already have done so.

Retired goalkeeper Shilton, whose England record of 125 caps is likely to be broken by Rooney, told BBC Scotland: "I don't think he's a striker any more.

"He is spraying a few balls around, but I don't think he's being very effective.

"I thought he should have retired after the Euros. It's not because he could break my record. Far from it. If he does and he plays well, fine."

Rooney made his 116th international appearance during Sunday's World Cup qualifier against Slovakia, passing David Beckham to become England's most-capped outfield player.

Rooney's role in the England side has been the source of much speculation, with the team captain - a striker for most of his career - starting in a withdrawn role against Slovakia before dropping deeper following the second-half introduction of Dele Alli.

Rooney, England's record scorer with 53 goals, believes he can do a good job in that role but Shilton, 66, said: "We are trying to fit him in, but he's not a midfield player for me. Never will be."

It is hard to argue with Shilton’s logic here. Rooney is England’s record goalscorer and has a wealth of experience, but, truth be told, he has been in decline for over two years.

He remains an able player but after two very disappointing tournaments, England must look to the future and Rooney manifestly is not that.

It would, of course, be a very different scenario if England did not have a crop of decent younger players coming through but they do, as evidenced by Marcus Rashford's impressive outing from England U21s on Tuesday.

The very fact that he has been shoehorned into midfield says it all: it represents an acknowledgment - regardless of what Rooney or Sam Allardyce might say in public - that Rooney no longer offers enough to start in his favoured position.