Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/721047
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 31 AUGUST 2016 20 THE 30-year-old Manchester United forward has retained the England captaincy under new manager Sam Allardyce and will now look to lead the Three Li- ons to the finals in Russia in two years. Rooney will lead England out in their first World Cup qualifier in Slovakia on Sunday but admitted he expects this to be his last in- ternational campaign. "I have had a fantastic interna- tional career so far, played a lot of games and enjoyed every minute but at some point it is going to come to an end," he said. "I'm not old, I'm 30 years of age, and come Russia I feel that will be the time for me to say goodbye to international football. "My mind is made up but it is up to Sam Allardyce again over the next two years but, if selected, I will have enjoyed it, some highs, some lows but I'll be an immense- ly proud man." Rooney was the captain under Roy Hodgson as England quali- fied for Euro 2016 with a 100 per cent record before being knocked out of the tournament against Iceland at the round of 16 stage. During qualification, Rooney became England's all-time lead- ing goalscorer but he was left disappointed following the poor showing at the finals in France - although he had already made his decision to stay on with England, despite the likes of Alan Shearer calling for him to retire. "Right after the tournament, with all the questions on wheth- er I should stop playing, I said I wanted to continue," he said. "It is something I love doing and I made that aware to Sam when he got the job. I'm looking for- ward to getting back on the pitch, (there are) bad memories from the last game for England so it will be nice to get back playing. "Realistically I know myself that Russia will be my last opportuni- ty to do anything with England so I'm going to try and enjoy these two years and hopefully I can end my career with England on a high." Rooney has been playing in his preferred number 10 role at Man- chester United under Jose Mour- inho and Allardyce has suggested he will deploy his skipper in the same position for England. And the former Everton young- ster has said he will be available to Allardyce for the foreseeable future, even if he has set his own date to step down. "I said I'm available for selec- tion," added Rooney. "It wasn't me saying I'm going to continue because that is what I want to do, I said if selected, I'm available. "I made my mind up before the Euros, whether we did well or didn't do well, that I would con- tinue after the tournament. "Since then and on holiday and back at Manchester United I have not had much to think about. "I'm pleased the manager has come in, put me in the squad and given me the opportunity as cap- tain. "I think it is still two years away but I started playing football pro- fessionally when I was 16, inter- national football when I was 17 so 15 years of international football is a lot of years and in my eyes I think that would be the right time to finish." Sport SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL Rooney to quit national team after 2018 World Cup England captain Wayne Rooney intends to retire from international football following the 2018 World Cup Wayne Rooney will quit England duty after the 2018 World Cup Hart joins Torino on season-long loan deal - agent M ANCHESTER City goalkeep- er Joe Hart has joined Serie A side Torino on loan until the end of the season, the player's agent confirmed yesterday. The 29-year-old has been out of favour at Manchester City since the arrival of new manag- er Pep Guardiola and dropped to number three in the pecking order behind 17 million pound signing Claudio Bravo and Wil- ly Caballero. Hart's agent Jonathan Barnett told Tuttosport: "Yes, Joe Hart will play at Torino. It's done. "He has said 'yes' to the club and now Manchester City have given the OK. It's all true, it's certain." Hart is on international duty with England this week but has been given permission to f ly to Italy to resolve his future with the British media reporting that he was due to arrive in Turin later on Tuesday. A loan move to Premier League Sunderland was also listed among his options in the media but Hart has opted for a new start in Italy, where he will become the first English goal- keeper to play in Serie A since the league began in 1929. Torino thrashed Bologna 5-1 on Sunday in their latest Serie A start and are seventh in the standings on three points after two matches.