Roy Hodgson names Wayne Rooney in England squad to face Scotland despite on-going Manchester United dispute

Rooney has played just 45 minutes of pre-season football prompting Hodgson to include Southampton striker Rickie Lambert

Wayne Rooney has been named in the England squad by Roy Hodgson today, in spite of the Manchester United striker having played just one behind-closed-doors game in pre-season, missing Tuesday’s game in Stockholm with a shoulder injury.

Rooney picked up the injury playing against Real Betis at United’s training ground last week and is still a doubt for Sunday’s Community Shield game against Wigan Athletic. As he attempts to resolve his future, with a clear desire on his part to move to Chelsea, Wednesday’s game against Scotland could be his first match of the season in front of supporters.

Hodgson’s surprise selection was Rickie Lambert, the Southampton striker, who at 31 has never been in an England squad before. To a large extent, Lambert’s inclusion demonstrates the lack of options that Hodgson has among his striker. As well as Rooney and Lambert he has picked Wilfried Zaha and Jermain Defoe in his squad.

Lambert’s first experience of Premier League football came last season with Southampton. He started his career in the youth set-up at Liverpool and, after being released, played for Blackpool, Macclesfield Town, Stockport County, Rochdale and Bristol Rovers before signing for Southampton in 2009. He scored 15 goals in the Premier League last season.

Hodgson has selected Jack Wilshere in spite of question marks over his availability. Andy Carroll, injured, is not in the squad, and Daniel Sturridge, only recently back in training, is also out. Leon Osman, who was in the squad that played against Brazil in June has not been selected. There are eight United players in Hodgson’s senior squad, including Ashley Young, back after injury.

Hodgson will also coach the Under-21s in their game against Scotland at Bramall Lane on Tuesday. He has picked Jonjo Shelvey, Raheem Sterling and Tom Ince in that squad as well as the Manchester United 20-year-old Jesse Lingard.

Surprise inclusion Rickie Lambert could very well feature against Scotland with injury concerns over Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe (GETTY IMAGES)

England squad to face Scotland on August 14:

Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Hart (Manchester City), John Ruddy (Norwich City), Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Ashley Young (Manchester United), Wilfried Zaha (Manchester United), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur), Rickie Lambert (Southampton), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United)