Ready and waiting: Darren Bent could grab his chance in Rooney's absence

But discard him altogether? Face the best team in the world without him and do so with the intention of building a new side
Rooney might struggle to be part of?

That would be as self-defeating an act as  getting yourself sent off in the last game of a qualification campaign.

Rooney is England’s bad joke, a player who causes anxiety and frustration come the major tournaments and, given the fact that three of his nine red cards have come this year, shows no sign of learning from mistakes.

But he remains the best chance England have of making any kind of impact next summer. There is no doubt Rooney’s poor form was a major factor in England’s failure at the last two World Cups.

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