England goalkeeper Joe Hart has backed recently appointed national team captain Wayne Rooney, reports the Guardian.
Rooney, aged 28, scored the winning penalty in England’s narrow 1-0 victory over Norway on Wednesday evening, with the Three Lions looking to kick on following a poor World Cup campaign.
The penalty was Rooney’s first sinnce being made captain on a permanent basis, having taken over from former captain Steven Gerrard, who retired from the international stage following England’s elimination in the group stages, in Brazil this summer.
And Manchester City goalkeeper Hart, is backing Rooney to succeed with the armband, ahead of England’s first European Championship qualifier tomorrow evening, with Roy Hodgson’s side facing a trip to Switzerland to start the road to France in the summer of 2016.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Hart stated: “[Rooney] is a born leader. He’s been around the set up now for years and years. He’s the pin-up boy of English football and someone we are all very proud to work under.”
Hart then went onto speak about Rooney’s captaincy role within the set up.
“You’ve seen it. He’s Wayne. He’s a good leader. He’s the main man in English football.
“He was brilliant. He took his penalty really well. The keeper went early, but the way [Rooney] strikes the ball, he had no chance.”
by Ben Reardon
@BenReardon1
