World Cup

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

By Sam Hughes, Reporter | 15 June 2014

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.