England vs Scotland team news: Wayne Rooney starts for World Cup qualifier against Auld Enemy
Under-fire Gordon Strachan brings back Robert Snodgrass two weeks after the latter was ruled out for a month through injury
GARETH SOUTHGATE has restored Wayne Rooney to his starting line-up for Friday's 2018 World Cup qualifying clash against Scotland with Tottenham's Dele Alli missing out through injury.
The England and Manchester United captain was dropped for England's 0-0 draw in Slovenia last month, with Alli shifted into Rooney's No10 position.
But after Alli picked up a training ground injury ahead of last Sunday's North London Derby, the door was opened for Rooney to return.
Alli's Spurs team mate Harry Kane could also feature in England's attack.
Kane made it through 70 minutes of his first game back from a seven week injury absence against Arsenal on Sunday, including scoring the equaliser in a 1-1 draw.
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West Ham United defender Aaron Cresswell and Sunderland keeper Jordan Pickford were called up on Monday, after Danny Drinkwater and Fraser Forster dropped out.
Neither are expected to start.
Scotland boss Gordon Strachan has been boosted ahead of this game by the returns of two important players.
Last week, Celtic captain Scott Brown reversed his decision to retire from international football and went straight into the squad for Friday's clash.
Hull City's Robert Snodgrass has also been included, despite his club announcing two weeks ago that the winger would be out for a month.
Strachan has a choice of four forwards to lead the attack, but only one is in good form.
Sheffield Wednesday's Steven Fletcher hasn't scored in five games and is carrying a knock.
Leigh Griffiths and Steven Naismith are short of first team action at Celtic and Norwich respectively.
Fulham's Chris Martin looks the best bet, after scoring four in his past five club games and in his country's 1-1 draw with Lithuania last month.
Stats
- This is the 113th meeting between England and Scotland, with the first coming in 1872 - 144 years ago.
- England have won 47 of the countries previous meetings, while Scotland have been victorious on 41 occasions.
- Scotland have won just one of their last six matches against England at Wembley.
- England have won their last ten competitive matches at Wembley.
- October's 0-0 draw in Slovenia was the first time England had failed to win a qualifying match since September 2013.
- This ended a run of 14 consecutive qualifying matches in which England had found the net.
- The last time England conceded more than twice in one match was their 4-2 defeat to Sweden in November 2012.
- Scotland have won two of their last eight competitive matches.
- The last time Scotland qualified for a major tournament was the 1998 World Cup in France.
- Wayne Rooney has scored seven international goals since the countries last met, in October 2014.
England team:
Hart, Walker, Rose, Stones, Cahill, Dier, Henderson, Sterling, Lallana, Rooney, Sturridge
Scotland team:
Gordon, Anya, Hanley, Berra, Wallace, Fletcher, Morrison, Brown, Snodgrass, Forrest, Griffiths