Steven Gerrard has laughed off suggestions that Wayne Rooney should not be included in the England squad for Euro 2016.
Calls for the Manchester United skipper to be omitted from Roy Hodgson's 23-man squad have gathered pace in recent weeks due to the performances of Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane for the Three Lions and Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur respectively.
Gerrard, however, has blasted critics of the 30-year-old and insisted that England "need" their record goalscorer in France.
"I get those who say Wayne has had a dip in form at Manchester United, he'll be the first to admit that, but he is still a top-class international footballer who can be the match-winner for his country in France," Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Gerrard wrote in The Telegraph.
"We need him there. I also think there is an issue of respect here. For the last 10 years Wayne has been entertaining England fans – he's become our greatest goalscorer – and it was not that long ago there were questions about where the next Rooney was coming from. Well, the real one is still here with plenty to offer.
"When talking about world-class players at our disposal, he has been one of the shining lights for years. Now there are those who'd leave him out. Where is the loyalty to one of the greatest players, not just of our generation, but in English history? Why do so many people want to finish him?"
Rooney, who is currently on the sidelines with a knee problem, has scored 51 times in 109 appearances for England and has 14 in 32 for Man United this season.
Matt Law
