Football
ESPN staff 7y

Wayne Rooney can earn England recall at Everton - Gareth Southgate

England manager Gareth Southgate has said Wayne Rooney can earn an international recall following his transfer from Manchester United to Everton.

Rooney, England's all-time top scorer, has not appeared in a squad since Gareth Southgate's permanent appointment because he was restricted to playing a bit-part role for United last season.

But the door is open for him to return if he plays regularly for Everton.

"The great thing for Rooney is that he will probably be playing more regular football and so it's as simple as that," Southgate told the London Evening Standard.

"In the league we only have 70 English players, and so we certainly aren't ruling anybody out."

Southgate said the 31-year-old remained in his plans when asked about his omission from the squad that played Germany and Lithuania in March.

"He's absolutely [in my thinking]," the England boss said of the 119-cap forward.

"I didn't quite understand why we were talking about tributes when he has still got every chance of being in this team.

"I'm conscious that we'll be talking about Wayne again and I'm hoping to be talking about the players who are here, but there's no reason why he is finished with us."

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