England boss Roy Hodgson has paid tribute to his captain Wayne Rooney after his 86th-minute winner in the 3-2 win away to Slovenia in Euro 2016 qualifying.

Rooney, who had missed two good chances earlier in the second half, pounced in the closing stages of normal time to maintain the Three Lions' 100% record in Group E.

"Wayne Rooney's performance says a lot of things about him as a man," Hodgson told FIFA.com.

"Just before he took that chance he took a nasty blow from an elbow, which could have decked many a player and led to him losing his discipline. It didn't and he got up.

"He had one or two chances that had gone begging, but when the ball fell to him he still stuck it away with aplomb. We can rely on that man."

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere struck twice in the second half after Milivoje Novakovic fired the hosts into a half-time lead, with Nejc Pecnik briefly equalising on 84 minutes.

England sit top of the group with 18 points from their six outings.

Written by
Shane Callaghan