Tuesday 26 July 2016 10:21, UK
Sam Allardyce says whatever position Wayne Rooney undertakes for Man Utd will determine where he'll play for England.
The new manager offered no guarantee that Rooney would remain captain when he faced the press for the first time at St George's Park on Monday.
But in a later briefing Allardyce's regard for England's record goalscorer was clear as he spoke about what role Rooney might play in the future.
"I still think Wayne Rooney still has a massive place to play in the England side," he said. "I don't think there is any doubt about that."
Roy Hodgson picked Rooney in midfield at Euro 2016, while incoming Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho says he still sees the 30-year-old as a striker.
And Allardyce plans to monitor Mourinho's use of the player before deciding on a suitable England role.
He said: "I think Jose will determine [where he plays for England].
"If Jose says he is not going to play him in centre midfield and he is playing up front and scoring goals for Manchester United, then it would be pointless me bringing him into England and playing him in centre midfield."
Asked if Rooney could remain first-choice if he loses his United place, he said: "I don't know until that happens with anybody, let alone Wayne Rooney.
"Like everything else, you wait until the season starts. I hope there are standout players all over the place when the Premier League starts. I hope it's a hugely difficult task for me to pick my first squad.
"I do think form at a football club has a place when you are making your selection."
Allardyce plans to do the rounds of Premier League managers to establish working relationships, and he said: "We've got to try and help each other if we possibly can.
"It won't always be the case, the demands on Premier League managers and demand on me as England manager is bound to cause some conflict down the line because the pressures are far greater than ever before.
"So they are bound to want to protect their players and that is what I have to try and overcome with a little bit of give and take, hopefully."
