England

Roy Hodgson: 'Wayne Rooney has to perform at major tournament to elevate status'

By Simon Sinclair, Reporter | 29 March 2015

Roy Hodgson feels that Wayne Rooney has to perform at a major tournament to elevate his status as an all-time England great alongside Sir Bobby Charlton.

Roy Hodgson has expressed his belief that Wayne Rooney has to perform at a major tournament to be considered as an England great in same class as Sir Bobby Charlton.

Rooney is two goals shy of matching of Charlton's all-time goalscoring record of 49 for the Three Lions, but has struggled to perform on the biggest stages while wearing an England shirt.

Hodgson feels that it will take an exceptional performance from the Manchester United man at a European Championship or World Cup to reach the level of Charlton.

"To do it, a player would have to be very successful at a European Championship or World Cup as Bobby Charlton was," the 67-year-old told reporters.

"People would argue Bobby was England's best ever player - there wouldn't be many of my age who would have him outside the top three.

"If Wayne can break into that in the future when he stops playing, then that is fantastic for him. Bobby Charlton, for me, is up there on a pedestal and it will take time for any of the modern-day players to get up to that level."

Charlton was part of the England team that won the country's only World Cup in 1966.