Wayne Rooney casts doubt on ‘gifted’ England star tipped to play a major role at Euro 2024 and claims that he is ‘all over the place defensively’ and will be dropped for potential knockout stages

Wayne Rooney has expressed reservations about Gareth Southgate‘s likely partner for Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham in England’s midfield against Serbia. 

The Three Lions get their Euro 2024 campaign underway at the Veltins Arena on Sunday evening, as they bid to claim only the second trophy in the nation’s history. 

Aside from the concern over the England defence, Southgate’s biggest call for the game will be deciding which player to start alongside Rice and Bellingham.

Chelsea‘s Conor Gallagher impressed in the 3-0 win over Bosnia last week, while youngsters Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton have made good cases to start over the course of their seasons. 

However, it appears Southgate it leaning towards Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold. And even though Rooney believes his fellow Scouser may be the most gifted player with the ball in the squad, the Man United legend still doesn’t trust him out of possession. 

Alexander-Arnold could be handed a starting spot for Sunday’s Euro 2024 opener against Serbia

‘I think he (Southgate) will go with Trent. I think he’s probably the most gifted player we have with the ball at his feet that we’ve got,’ Rooney said on The Overlap’s Euros fan debate, brought to you by Sky Bet. 

‘Defensively he is all over the place. He can’t defend. I wouldn’t have him anywhere near the middle of the pitch. 

‘I have no problem playing him [at right-back] but I wouldn’t have him anywhere near [centre midfield].

‘And I love Trent actually. On the ball, the stuff he can do nobody else can do it.’ 

Earlier this week, Mail Sport reported that Southgate was seriously considering starting Alexander-Arnold in the Euro 2024 opener.

The head coach has explored the idea of deploying the Anfield vice-captain, who plays at right-back for his club, in central midfield for the past 12 months as he searches for a ball-playing partner for Rice.

The 25-year-old has been handed the No 8 shirt for the tournament, potentially a clue towards what looks set to be a lead role in Germany.

Southgate is keen to utilise his players during the tournament as he contends with various fitness issues and has options in midfield.

Rooney expects Southgate to turn to Alexander-Arnold in the group stages, but believes the manager will change his personnel if England reach the business end of the tournament.

England manager Gareth Southgate is keen to utilise the Liverpool star’s talents on the ball 

But Rooney feels Southgate may turn to Conor Gallagher in the latter stages of the tournament

Kobbie Mainoo, who has starred at Man United this season, could be another option for Southgate

‘100 per cent, if we go into the quarter-finals and we’re playing France, Trent is not playing in midfield,’ Rooney added. ‘Gareth would not put Trent in midfield. 

‘For me, I don’t think Gareth trusts him enough to play Trent in midfield and he has his doubts the same way I do about playing him in midfield.

‘That’s when you’re going to see Gallagher or Mainoo probably. I don’t think he trusts Trent defensively, which he’s right to. But in the games where you’re going to dominate possession, you probably will see him in there.’