Euro 2016: Injured Wayne Rooney could miss England’s bid to complete qualifiers with 100 per cent record
England manager Roy Hodgson fears he could be without captain Wayne Rooney for the Euro 2016 qualifying double-header against Estonia and Lithuania.
Rooney’s fellow striker Danny Ings and midfielder Jonjo Shelvey also sat out training yesterday and are doubts for the fixtures, while defender John Stones has been ruled out altogether.
Tottenham right-back Kyle Walker was summoned on Monday evening to replace Stones, while his club colleague Andros Townsend was also drafted in owing to Rooney, Ings and Shelvey’s conditions.
England have already qualified for next summer’s finals in France and secured top spot in their group. Wins in their next two games would see them progress with a 100 per cent record.
Should Rooney and the uncapped Ings be ruled out, Hodgson would be left with just three forwards: Harry Kane, who has just one goal in 11 games for Spurs this term, Leicester’s Jamie Vardy and Arsenal’s Theo Walcott.
Vardy, who made his England debut in last month’s win over San Marino, has seven goals in eight club appearances, while Walcott has four in 10.
England play Estonia at Wembley on Friday and visit Lithuania on Monday.