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Rooney still England’s main man, says Barnes

SINGAPORE — Wayne Rooney has to lead the line for England at Euro 2016. So said England and Liverpool legend John Barnes.

John Barnes with youngsters at the LFC Soccer Clinic at the Home United Youth Academy. Barnes says England skipper Wayne Rooney should not be written off for recent poor performances. Photo: Standard Chartered Singapore

John Barnes with youngsters at the LFC Soccer Clinic at the Home United Youth Academy. Barnes says England skipper Wayne Rooney should not be written off for recent poor performances. Photo: Standard Chartered Singapore

SINGAPORE — Wayne Rooney has to lead the line for England at Euro 2016. So said England and Liverpool legend John Barnes.

England skipper Rooney has been heavily criticised for his lacklustre performances for Manchester United this season, with just two goals in 12 English Premier League appearances. But Barnes, capped 79 times by England, said Rooney has a key role to play in the Three Lions’ Euro 2016 and 2018 World Cup campaigns.

“Rooney is an exceptional player with years of experience for club and country. I don’t see any reason why he should be dropped from the England squad. His experience will prove vital,” said Barnes, on the sidelines of a football clinic yesterday at the Home United Football Academy, where 100 youths from CARE Singapore were given a taste of Anfield-style training.

Rooney, 30, became England’s all-time record goalscorer (51) in England’s 2-0 win over Switzerland in September, but that is the only high he has enjoyed on the pitch all season.

He put on another dismal display against Leicester City last Saturday and was upstaged by England team-mate and Foxes striker Jamie Vardy, who set a new Premiership record of scoring for the 11th straight match.

Vardy’s dramatic rise this season has led to suggestions that the 28-year-old should replace Rooney as England’s main striker at Euro 2016. However, Barnes said such talk is premature. “Vardy has done fantastically so far, but is inexperienced to lead the line on such a big stage,” said the former Liverpool winger, who scored 84 goals in 314 appearances for the Reds. “He is a valuable member of the squad but to say he is more important than Wayne is not true.”

One man who is also fighting for his place in the England squad is Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge.

The 26-year-old has missed 68 matches over the past three years for Liverpool and has played only four English Premier League matches this season because of persistent injury woes.

While Barnes does sympathise with Sturridge, he said Liverpool should plan for life without him.

“Daniel (Sturridge) is an important player to Liverpool and ideally you would want to have him fit. But if he’s not, there’s not much you can do,” he said.

“Liverpool need to avoid becoming a one-man team like when Luis (Suarez) was at the club (2011-2014), and compensate for his absences.”

So should a new striker be high on the shopping list of new Reds manager Jurgen Klopp?

Barnes said the team need to be strengthened in all departments.

“I won’t look at any specific area and say that we need to invest there,” he said. “We want to get better players with better quality in all areas. This will lead to more competition for places.”

If that part is done, will the Reds be ready for a title challenge?

Barnes thinks it is still too early for a title shot.

“I am happy with what Liverpool are doing right now, but you must be realistic,” he said. “I believe we can challenge for fourth, and maybe even third place, this season. But we need to invest in the team and get better players in (during the next couple of transfer windows). Then we can think about a possible title challenge.”

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