England boss Roy Hodgson says he is not
concerned about Wayne Rooney’s disciplinary record ahead of his side’s clash
with Montenegro later this month.
Last time the Three Lions played in
Podgorica, they were leading 2-0 before the Manchester United striker was
sent-off for lashing out at an opponent.
England ended up drawing that game 2-2,
with Rooney being handed a two-match ban for the incident, meaning he missed
the first two games of Euro 2012.
This wasn’t the first time that the
27-year-old’s temper had got the better of him in a big match, after he was
previously sent-off for stamping on Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho in the
quarter-finals of the 2006 World Cup. Indeed, punters who bet on football regularly back Rooney to see red.
Following draws against Poland and Ukraine,
the Three Lions currently sit second behind the Montenegrins in their World Cup
qualifying group, and the upcoming clashes against both San Marino and Branko
Brnovic’s men are sure to prove vital in their bid to qualify for Brazil in
2014.
This means Rooney is likely to be once
again under the spotlight but Hodgson says he won’t be taking any special
measures to ensure the striker keeps his head at the Stadion Pod Goricom.
"I don't think I will speak to Wayne
personally on the matter because he is more than aware (of what happened),” the
boss said to football betting news reporters. "When you have been sent off in a game, you don't forget your
sendings off.
"I will be speaking to all the
players. Away matches at this level of football require a lot of discipline,
not only tactical discipline but also mental.
"But I won't be singling out Wayne for
that. He has not let me down as a player so I have no reason to doubt
him," he added.
