Alan Smith says Gareth Southgate has a big decision to make over England captain Wayne Rooney against Slovenia on Tuesday. Adidas Marty Mcsorley Jersey . The Sky Sports pundit was at Wembley on Saturday evening to see Englands record goalscorer deployed in midfield against Malta, a position he has occupied in his last six international appearances.Smith praised fellow midfielders Jordan Henderson and Dele Alli, but insists Rooney does not have the ability to play that role against a higher standard of opposition. He feels interim England manager Southgate may need to change his thinking on his captain ahead of Tuesdays World Cup Qualifier in Slovenia.He told Sky Sports: Rooney played in that deep-lying position next to Jordan Henderson, who was man of the match by some distance; some of his passing was quite superb. Alan Smith says Gareth Southgate has a call to make on Wayne Rooney Rooney had loads of time because Malta had dropped off and he was able to lift his head and pick his passes like he was in training.Its going to be interesting, I cant really see him in that position against better opposition, and I cant really see him playing in that position against Slovenia on Tuesday, when hes actually got to do more defending.So theres a question mark there because Dele Alli did really well in the No 10 position behind Daniel Sturridge and he seems to be cementing his place there. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. For Rooney, I think he sees his future for England in that withdrawn position. The question is, does the manager see that?First-half goals from Daniel Sturridge and Alli earned victory for Southgates side at Wembley and Smith described it as a solid start for Sam Allardyces successor. Gareth Southgate praised Wayne Rooney after the match But he feels the players need to be more ruthless in front of goal in the caretaker managers three remaining matches against Slovenia, Scotland and Spain.Smith added: I think it was a big, big day for Gareth Southgate, and a solid debut for him without being spectacular.England absolutely dominated possession from start to finish, Malta hardly got in Englands half let alone the penalty area.Its just a little disappointing they couldnt get more goals.You can watch Englands tour of Bangladesh, plus Premier League football and the Japan Grand Prix on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price! Also See: England player ratings Southgate hails Rooney As it happened Group F table Adidas Trevor Lewis Jersey .com) - Matt Beleskey has helped give the Anaheim Ducks some scoring depth and hell look to stay hot on Wednesday night when his club hosts the struggling Philadelphia Flyers. Adidas Jonathan Quick Jersey .com) - The Chicago White Sox have officially announced that the club has agreed to terms with utilityman Emilio Bonifacio on a one-year, $4 million contract that includes a team option for the 2016 season. http://www.kingshockeypro.com/adidas+nic+dowd+kings+jersey . It looked like being another miserable day for Moyes when Ashley Westwood put Villa in front from a 13th-minute free kick. But Rooney headed United level seven minutes later, and the striker netted his 16th of the season for the struggling champions from the penalty spot before halftime.England coach Wayne Bennett has vowed to lead Brisbane Broncos into the 2017 World Club Series. Plans for the annual clash between the leading clubs from Super League and the NRL were thrown into disarray earlier this week when Melbourne Storm officially withdrew.They were promptly followed by a host of other Australian outfits, who claimed it interfered with their preparations for the new domestic season. Wigan and Cronulla, the two 2016 Grand Final winners, will meet in the traditional World Club Challenge at the DW Stadium on the weekend of February 16-17. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. However, uncertainty surrounds the other two scheduled ties in the recently-expanded World Club Series following the snub from beaten NRL Grand Finalists Melbourne, who were due to play Super League runners-up Warrington.Brisbane had offered to host Wigan if they had lost the Super League Grand Final and Bennett, a long-time advocate of the international game, says he has already been in touch with Rugby Football League chief executive Nigel Wood to reassure him of his clubs commitment to the series.We would be keen to travel, Bennett said. I spoke to Nigel on Monday night and told him that the whole concept has got the clubs backing.We love coming over, weve enjoyed it in the last couple of years as a club and were also trying to host one here in the pre-season. But if that doesnt come to fruition and theres a vacancy to come over to England, we will certainly go.The other clubs have all got their reasons Im sure, but we dont find it interferes with our season really. Bennett also revealed he would have no problem selecting Australia-born players in his England squad Weve played in a Grand Final, gone over for the World Club Series and started the following year well, so I cant find a fault with it. Personally Id be extremely disappointed if we shared the same view.Meanwhile, Bennett said he would have had no qualms about picking Australia-born players inn his 24-man squad for the Four Nations Series, even though he opted not to in the end. Adidas Marcel Dionne Jersey. Twins Brett and Josh Morris, who have both represented the Kangaroos, and Newcastle Knights scrum-half Trent Hodkinson were among a raft of players linked with a switch of allegiance.I was considering any player that was eligible for England, whether they were Australia-born, Australia-based or simply English, Bennett said. It didnt faze me in any way.The speculation got out of control though. It was purely media-driven in this country, I dont know what it was like in England.At the time I said nothing about it but Ill pick the best 24 players to play for England in my opinion. If theyre Australia-based, I would have stood by that. Wigan Warriors will also compete in the World Club Series after winning the 2016 Super League Bennett has been able to call on the local knowledge of assistants Denis Betts, the Widnes head coach, and Paul Anderson, who was in charge of Huddersfield up to July, but insisted he had the last word on selection and defended his decision to ignore Hull hooker Danny Houghton, the 2017 Man of Steel.I wasnt told who to pick, he said. I consulted with people I trust who are well-connected in the game and I watch a lot of the games - it made it a lot easier for me.They were my decisions and my decisions only. I see a fair bit of Super League; I have my own job at the Broncos but the games are shown Friday morning and Saturday morning here - and occasionally Sunday too - so I know whats going on.My job is to pick what I think is the best players and what we need from them. If Houghton has missed out then thats the reason why hes missed out.It doesnt take away from his wonderful achievement in winning Man of Steel - I didnt know I was supposed to pick him because of that.You can watch Englands tour of Bangladesh, plus Premier League football and the British Masters on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price! Also See: Saints sign Smith from Wigan Wigan sign Escare and Forsyth Walker to leave Hull KR Rugby League Set of Six Stitched Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Discount Jerseys China NFL Hoodies China NFL Hoodies Cheap NFL Black Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys From China ' ' '
