Wayne Rooney out of the picture for England as Gareth Southgate’s interim spell as boss ends against Spain

Simon Peach15 November 2016

Gareth Southgate will tonight take charge of his final match as interim England manager, but captain Wayne Rooney will be watching from home due to a knee injury.

This evening's glamour friendly against Spain brings the curtain down on a year that started with a thrilling comeback win in Germany, witnessed a humiliating Euro 2016 exit to Iceland and ends with a third different manager at the helm.

Southgate, parachuted in after the abrupt end to the reign of Roy Hodgson's successor Sam Allardyce, is strong favourite to stay in permanent charge and can enhance his position with a positive display against the 2010 world champions.

The 46-year-old oversaw a comprehensive 3-0 victory against oldest foes Scotland in Friday's World Cup qualifier and is as short to 1-16 with one bookmaker for the permanent post.

Rooney will not be able to aid the interim manager's cause having returned to Manchester United with what the Football Association says is a "minor knee injury".

The 31-year-old, who missed training on Monday, would have been reduced largely to a watching brief anyway given the interim manager's focus on England's long-term interests rather than his own managerial prospects.

"I wouldn't start Wayne in this game anyway, so we'll decide which route to go," Southgate said.

England in training ahead of their international friendly vs Spain

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"At times too much of that responsibility has laid with Wayne and we need to share that. There are leaders already and other potential leaders who I think can step forward.

"And once you have a team full of those players then we'll have a lot of success."

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson will inherit the armband, as he did in Slovenia, for the year-ending glamour tie.

Southgate says Burnley defender Michael Keane and West Ham's Aaron Cresswell will not start against Spain, but Southampton left-back Ryan Bertrand is in contention having sat out of training with Rooney.

Uncapped Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and in-form Tom Heaton, who has made one late substitute appearance for his country, will be on the bench, with Southgate confirming that Joe Hart will start.

The 29-year-old, who made a surprise loan switch to Torino in the summer, has remained England's number one despite a poor Euro 2016.

Left embarrassed by Wales' Gareth Bale and, most crucially, Iceland striker Kolbeinn Sigthorsson, Hart is now attempting to channel his energy, passion and enthusiasm in a more productive way.

"I'm always trying to learn and adapt," Hart said when asked if he was getting too pumped up.

"Obviously the Euros wasn't my finest hour, so I needed to have a think and pick apart how I played and what I did, and maybe change a few things, speaking to the people who count and seeking advice. Even with Gareth, we spoke about it.

"You find a way. I've got a lot of energy, a lot of passion. Questionably it could have been too much.

"But there are ways of channelling that. I'm constantly changing and evolving, trying to be the best I can be. Learning from things that didn't go too well is definitely a way of doing that."

You can follow tonight's match between England and Spain live on Standard Sport. Click here for more information.

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