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Roy Hodgson doesn't want Wayne Rooney talk to damage squad

By Paul Gorst, Reporter | 09 August 2013

England manager Roy Hodgson calls on his players to not allow Wayne Rooney's future to affect their preparation ahead of the Scotland friendly.

England manager Roy Hodgson has urged his squad not to allow the speculation surrounding Wayne Rooney to adversely affect their preparation ahead of the friendly against Scotland on Wednesday.

Rooney has been linked with a move to Chelsea this summer, with Manchester United rejecting two bids for the striker already.

Hodgson has selected Rooney for the upcoming game alongside Chelsea trio Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard, but asked the players not to let the transfer speculation get in the way of approaching the game professionally.

"I don't expect anybody for one minute to fracture their concentration from what's important," Hodgson is quoted as saying in The Telegraph. "I must say that both David Moyes and Jose Mourinho have been fully supportive and fully understand my situation.

"The situation is not an easy one at the moment for David and Wayne. Wayne is very keen and anxious to be a part of this but he also is aware he might not be able to give us the full service that he normally does because of what has been happening to him fitness-wise.

"As far as we're concerned now, you can speak as much as you like to each other, but during these two or three days, this is England, this is England against Scotland and, even more importantly, the matches beyond Scotland."

The full England squad for the Scotland friendly can be seen here.