Gary Lineker: 'Wayne Rooney is an England great'

Gary Lineker has claimed that Wayne Rooney deserves to be considered one of England's greatest players.

The Manchester United forward is just three goals short of breaking Sir Bobby Charlton's England record, and Lineker believes that his form over an extended spell puts him among England's finest strikers.

"Is he England's greatest striker? It's not easy to compare players from different eras, and he's got a lot about his game," Lineker, who scored 48 times for England, told reporters.

"He's not just an out-and-out goalscorer like I was, he's played in many different positions for England.

"Whether he's better than Michael Owen, Jimmy Greaves or Bobby Charlton is not easy to say, but he's up there with the very best."

England meet Slovenia in a Euro 2016 qualifier on Sunday.