Roy Hodgson on Wayne Rooney: England captain would not be able to lecture a room because of his 'Liverpool accent'

England manager risks the ire of Merseyside

Wayne Rooney watches as England manager Roy Hodgson addresses the media (Getty Images)

Roy Hodgson has risked the anger of those in Liverpool, after making comments about Wayne Rooney's accent.

The England manager has suggested that Rooney, would not be able to stand up and lecture a room full of people because of his 'Liverpool accent'.

When quizzed on the England captain's oratory skills, Hodgson answered: "Oratory is a much over-exaggerated quality. There are some people I think are very eloquent who don’t get messages across well and others who I don’t think you would regard as orators who get their message across very well.

"Everyone knows Wayne is not the sort of person, with his Liverpool accent, who is going to be able to stand up in front of a lecture room of people.

"But he doesn’t need to. All he has to do is make certain the players he is talking to understand where he is coming from."

Some might suggest that Rooney's accent would be the least of his problems should he attempt to captivate a room full of people with a rousing speech.