Roy Hodgson has confirmed that striker Wayne Rooney will not be part of the starting line-up against Spain.

This is one of the several friendly matches lined up for the England national team as a preparation for the Euro 2016. Rooney has not been in great form for the last couple of months and it makes sense to try out new players for the national team. It is highly anticipated that Tottenham forward Harry Kane will be starting the game. Kane has been in fine nick over the last few weeks. After ending the goal drought with a rebound effort against Manchester City, Kane recently scored a hat-trick against Bournemouth.

Hodgson says that he is expecting better performance from the 21-year-old, who has always delivered for the national team whenever he has been selected. Spain are not the force to reckon with they were once, but even then, England are expected to give them a lot of respect. Vicente del Bosque will be fielding striker Diego Costa, who has been woefully out of form for club and country, despite pressures to go for the likes of Alvaro Morata. Rooney has scored seven goals in the last eight appearances for England, but he will only start the game against France a few days later.

“Wayne’s with me today because he’s the captain of our team, he’s the most important figure as a result, but he actually won’t start the game tomorrow. I’m telling you that because Wayne and I are very anxious that we’re not trying to fool anybody or bamboozle anybody when he’s sat alongside me. That’s for the very simple reason that we’re looking at various combinations. Wayne is pencilled in against France on Tuesday,” said Hodgson. The manager also confirmed that Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy is doubtful because of injury.