Rooney’s England place in jeopardy after red card

Tuesday, 11 October 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

LONDON, Oct 10 (Reuters) : Fabio Capello has warned Wayne Rooney that he will not be automatically recalled to the England team after serving his suspension at the European championship next year.

Capello told British media he did not plan to start Rooney in any of the warm-up games before the tournament following the striker’s red card in Montenegro on Friday.

UEFA will announce later on Monday when Rooney’s case will be heard by their disciplinary committee, but coach Capello stressed that whether he received a one- or two-match ban, he would not necessarily walk back into the side after serving it.

“I need to find the solution for the first game, or two games, that Rooney will not play,” Capello told reporters. “And if we find that solution, he needs to work to return to the first 11.

“You know me. Sometimes I make mistakes but I try to select the best players, in the best moment of form. There were two I did not select for this game who are doing really well.

“I saw the game that Jermain Defoe played against Arsenal. He did really well. He ran a lot and pressed a lot. Daniel Sturridge is the same.” Capello continued: “I could leave Rooney out. If the others are good they will play. In my life as a manager I have put on the bench a lot of good players.” Capello defended the 25-year-old Manchester United striker after the match and has said that he would remain part of the squad, but there is no doubting his anger at what was a senseless kick on Miodrag Dzudovic 17 minutes from the end. England, needing just a point to seal their place at next year’s finals, were leading 2-1 at the time before being pegged back to 2-2 in the final minute.