Wayne Rooney: Sam Allardyce keeps Manchester United skipper on as England captain

WAYNE ROONEY will lead England into the World Cup qualifiers.

Three Lions head coach Sam Allardyce confirmed what SunSport revealed a month ago - the Manchester United legend, 30, will keep the captain’s armband for Sunday’s trip to Slovakia.

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Big Sam said: “Wayne has been an excellent captain for England.

“The manner in which he has fulfilled the role made it an easy decision for me to ask him to continue.”

Former skipper Alan Shearer said in The Sun on Monday Rooney should quit international football to extend his club career but Allardyce reckons there is plenty of life in the old dog yet — as a player and a captain.

He added: “Wayne’s record speaks for itself. He is the most senior member of the squad and he is hugely respected by his peers.

“All of these factors point towards him being the right choice to lead the team.”

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Sunday’s clash will be a big test for the new regime as Big Sam’s new-look squad make their first appearance since the 2-1 humiliation against Iceland that knocked them out of Euro 2016.

On Monday, Allardyce defended his controversial decision to bomb Marcus Rashford, Ross Barkley and Jack Wilshere from his squad.

Manchester United starlet Rashford, 18, scored three minutes into his international debut in May — a 2-1 win over Australia in a friendly at the Stadium of Light.

Soon after, he was named in Roy Hodgson’s Three Lions squad for the European Championships.

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Allardyce said: “As soon as Marcus scored the winner against Hull on Saturday I was pleased for him and pleased for Manchester United but I knew what it would bring.

“The experience he could get at the Under-21s and, hopefully, scoring goals and what he did in 15 minutes or so for Manchester United makes me think about him.

“If Jack Wilshere was playing every week for Arsenal he would be in the squad but unfortunately he isn’t.

“It is game time for him and it has been few and far between because he has had too many injuries.”