Three Lions legend Wayne Rooney selected Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold as he named the England XI he would like to start at the World Cup in Qatar.
Alexander-Arnold is one of the 26 players Gareth Southgate named in his squad for the tournament ahead of England's group-stage fixtures against Iran, United States and Wales. The 24-year-old is a mainstay in Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool side but Southgate appears to have more reservations about the right-back, who has faced a great deal of criticism over his defensive contributions.
While the Merseyside native has earned 17 Three Lions caps, just one of those appearances has come in 2022. It appears likely that in-form Newcastle star Kieran Trippier will be the first-choice right-back in Qatar, having excelled at the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020.
However, Manchester United hero Rooney would like to see Alexander-Arnold start on the right of defence also containing Manchester City centre-back John Stones and Red Devils duo Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw , ahead of Jordan Pickford .
In midfield, the former forward picked a double-pivot of West Ham captain Declan Rice and City stalwart Kalvin Phillips , freeing up Borussia Dortmund prodigy Jude Bellingham to play a more advanced role behind Tottenham striker Harry Kane . On the flanks, Rooney selected Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden , of Arsenal and City respectively, while speaking on talkSPORT.
Rooney is England's record scorer with 53 goals for his country, but Kane is just two away from matching his total and will be desperate to do so at the World Cup. The Spurs frontman has received a glowing endorsement from the man whose record he is attempting to equal then break, with Rooney backing him to score 70 England goals.
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"Do you know what, I'm delighted for him and I think he'll go on and smash the record," the Old Trafford icon told talkSPORT of Kane. "I think he'll end up on 70-odd goals, if I'm being honest. He deserves it for the work that he puts in.
"It's a huge honour to have the record but records are there to be broken and I can't think of anyone better than Harry to go and take that record. Hopefully he gets it during this World Cup because it'll mean that he's doing well for England."
England face Iran in their first fixture of the World Cup on Monday 21 November before a clash with United States four days later. They round out their group-stage campaign against Wales on 29 November.
Wayne Rooney's England starting XI for the World Cup (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Alexander-Arnold, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Phillips, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Foden; Kane.
