- Wayne Rooney is expected to start for Everton against Crystal Palace
- Roy Hodgson picked Rooney 42 times when he was England manager
- Hodgson says he was surprised that Rooney retired from international football
- Everton have not won away from Goodison Park since January this year
Roy Hodgson, the Crystal Palace manager, must find a way to stop Wayne Rooney, the man he picked 42 times for England, 18 as captain, and a player he ranks as one of the best he has ever managed.
‘Yes, of course he was,’ Hodgson said ahead of Everton’s visit to Selhurst Park this afternoon. ‘Wayne’s a top-class player, there’s no question about that. His goal record and his appearance record and his achievements, they speak for themselves.’
And Hodgson confessed that he was taken aback by Rooney’s decision to retire from international football in August.
Roy Hodgson says his Palace side will need to be able to keep Wayne Rooney under control
‘I was a little surprised, I must admit,’ Hodgson said. ‘He knows that because I’ve spoken to him. I thought he would try and continue to get to the next World Cup, but these are the decisions players have to make.
‘But what I do know is that England owes him, he owes England nothing, because he gave his all for England and did more than his fair share of what someone could expect for England.
‘So when the day comes when he says he wants to retire – even if it surprises a guy like me because I know how passionate he is about playing for England – I am very sure he’s had good reasons for coming to that decision. And he’s thought about it very, very carefully before ringing Gareth Southgate up and telling him.’
Hodgson is hoping his Palace side can overcome the challenge of Everton at Selhurst Park
Managerless Everton have not won away from Goodison Park in the Premier League since their previous visit to Selhurst on January 21, but Hodgson remains wary of his former captain and other players once under his wing.
‘Of course I am worried about the threat Wayne poses,’ he said. ‘For a long time Phil Jagielka, Leighton Baines and Rooney were an integral part of my England team. So I know the players, and I know how good they are, but that doesn’t exactly help me. I would prefer it if they were less good.’
Too good to go down? ‘Three teams will go down, and the three teams that go down will probably be quite good teams, so I don’t believe in that.’
Oumar Niasse (left), Tom Davies (centre) and Kevin Mirallas trains on Friday for Everton