Gareth Southgate insists Wayne Rooney still in England mix

London, July 28: Former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney's recent move to Everton has been encouraged by his international manager Gareth Southgate.

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Since taking over the England National team's job on a permanent basis, Southgate has not yet selected the veteran in the national team.

The England manager then explained Rooney's lack of game time at the Old Trafford was the reason behind his omission from the team.

But after the striker's move to Everton from United, Southgate has now suggested the former England captain's chance of rejoining the squad is very much open as the 31-year-old will now get ample time to prove his worth.

"The great thing for Rooney is that he will probably be playing more regular football and so it's as simple as that," Southgate told the 'London Evening Standard'.

"In the league we only have 70 English players, and so we certainly aren't ruling anybody out."

Southgate also suggested the 119-cap forward is in his ideas despite his exclusion from the squad that played Germany and Lithuania in March and he is hopeful of his return.

"He's absolutely [in my thinking]," the England boss said of the 31-year-old.

"I didn't quite understand why we were talking about tributes when he has still got every chance of being in this team.

"I'm conscious that we'll be talking about Wayne again and I'm hoping to be talking about the players who are here, but there's no reason why he is finished with us."

Rooney made just 25 appearances in all competitions with 5 goals last season and with first-team chances hard to come by the English striker decided to move on.

The Manchester United all-time top scorer's position in the next world cup was in serious doubt after players like Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy outperformed him in the last two seasons.

However, if he can again show his ability in the Blue shirt, Southgate will surely think about bringing the country's all-time goal-scorer to Russia for the next year's World Cup.

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