England manager Fabio Capello has warned Wayne Rooney that he will have to regain his form if he wishes to retain his place in the national side.
The Manchester United player is currently out of action with an ankle injury but his form for club and country has been poor for the past six months and he has scored just once in the Premier League this season.
Rooney, 25, then expressed a desire to leave Old Trafford before making a shock U-turn and signing a new five-year contract last week.
“If he’s (in form) I’ll play him, otherwise no,” Capello told RAI.
“For anything else, you’ve got to ask (Manchester United manager Sir Alex) Ferguson.”
The Italian added he intends to give England’s ’emerging talents’ a run out in the next two friendlies – against France next month and the other in February.
“We have good young players, a good Under-21 squad that has qualified for the European Championship and a great Under-19 side,” he said.
“There’s going to be some experiments with players in the next two friendlies.”
The 64-year-old coach also confirmed that Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine will be his last as a football manager.
“After the Euros I’m definitely going to retire.
“Unfortunately I am old, I no longer have the time: this will be my last experience on the bench.”
