MX23RW : Sunday, March 23 01:03:49| >> :120:43531:43531:

Graham Taylor: 'Wayne Rooney on the left isn't working'

Former England manager Graham Taylor claims that playing Wayne Rooney on the left isn't working as the striker needs to be playing centrally to be at his best.

Former England manager Graham Taylor has expressed his concern over Wayne Rooney's recent performances, claiming that playing the striker on the left isn't working.

Rooney set up Daniel Sturridge with a fine cross for England's equaliser, but overall put in an indifferent performance as Roy Hodgson's side slumped to a 2-1 defeat.

Taylor believes that Rooney needs to be playing as a centre-forward to get him back to his very best, despite Hodgson's defence of the Manchester United man.

"This business of asking him to play wide, I'm not too certain it's working," Taylor told BBC Radio 5 Live. "From a personal point of view, I would like to see him playing in that centre-forward position because I think that's where you get the best out of him.

"Asking him to come out wide, it gives me the impression at times that he doesn't like that and he's not into that.

"I'm not in any way, shape or form telling Roy who to select, but for me it's a little bit worrying seeing his performances at the moment. They're not of the Wayne Rooney type that we know."

Rooney is likely to start in England's next game against Uruguay.

ID:159971: cacheID:159971:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2416:
Written by
Sam Hughes
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Wayne Rooney of England reacts during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group D match between England and Italy at Arena Amazonia on June 14, 2014
Read Next:
Balotelli goal downs England
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool29217169274270
2Arsenal291610353242958
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest29166749351454
4Chelsea29147853371649
5Manchester CityMan City29146955401548
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2814594738947
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton29121164842647
8Fulham2912984338545
9Aston Villa2912984145-445
10Bournemouth29128948361244
11Brentford29125125045541
12Crystal Palace2810993633339
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd29107123740-337
14Tottenham HotspurSpurs291041555431234
15Everton2971393236-434
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2997133349-1634
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2975174058-1826
18Ipswich TownIpswich2938182862-3417
19Leicester CityLeicester2945202565-4017
20Southampton2923242170-499


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!