Vardy, Sturridge must start for England: Shearer

England’s coach Roy Hodgson applauds, with Wales’ fans in the background, at the end of the …

Football pundits Alan Shearer, Jamie Carragher, Harry Redknapp, Alan Smith, Ray Wilkins and Emile Heskey have all implored England manager Roy Hodgson to restore the Three Lions’ goalscorers in Thursday’s 2-1 win over Wales to the starting line-up for their next match.

The Manchester City goalkeeper apologised to his team-mates at half-time after Gareth Bale’s swerving 35-yard free-kick found the bottom corner via his outstretched left hand.

Rooney’s game intelligence, vision and passing range saw him impress in the 1-1 draw against Russian Federation and Thursday’s Group B clash with Wales, when the captain’s experience helped England secure a dramatic 2-1 comeback win.

“For players getting exhausted, it is probably easier to exploit but I am happy either way”.

“Since he’s got back from that injury situation, he did have a very settled period of play when he played on a regular basis and he just picked up that injury in the Europa League final”.

“Losing to England was disappointing, but you can not ask for more than it being in your own hands”.

“I think it would be harsh to say”, Hodgson said when asked if he had arrived at this team through circumstance. You know something will happen.

Even looking at the first half in Lens, which saw us go behind, I still thought we were the better side. They are a decent side, but we need to take the form we showed versus Wales into the second half against the Slovakians in St Etienne.

“Harry was looking a bit exhausted, I thought, in the course of the first half”. Do I want Sturridge on?

“We were anxious to inject a little bit more tempo and pace into our game, and we were anxious to persuade the players to take a few more risks and to show more confidence in themselves in the penalty area”, Hodgson said.

“Players have to prove their worthiness to some extent and sometimes the ones that you are convinced about before the tournament because they will be a big hitter for you turn out not to be”.

“Great credit to the manager”, said Rooney.

“We’ve spoken about moving the ball better, and if we don’t keep the ball it’s hard to do what I try to do best. The competition for places is just like it is at club level and we are all helping each other to perform as well as we can”.

“We quite like the idea of having someone like him and Dele Alli in the team in midfield who can score goals, as well as the ones that play a bit further forwards”.

“I had no hesitation in putting him on the field at play at halftime today”.

“He just seems to be getting fitter and fitter and he was looking very risky against Wales, which is great for us”. “He had a couple of sighters, but he doesn’t need too many chances before he gets his name on the scoresheet”. He could be very good and he certainly seems to have something about him. Look at France the previous day against Albania with Antoine Griezmann and Dimitri Payet coming good for them and helping them get through in stoppage time. He’s not scared at all.