England news: Six things for Sam Allardyce to address - Wayne Rooney, Jack Wilshere and Marcus Rashford

Giving Rooney a free pass could hinder more than help, while finding ways to bring Wilshere and Rashford back into the squad could reap rewards

Sam Allardyce has plenty to consider after his first match in charge of England (Getty)

Sam Allardyce began his reign as England manager with a dramatic stoppage-time victory against Slovakia in Trnava.

Adam Lallana’s late goal ensured Allardyce and England made a winning start to their World Cup qualification campaign, but with Malta due at Wembley next month before the Group F trip to Slovenia three days later, the win in Slovakia raised several issues for the new England manager to resolve before the forthcoming double-header.

Putting the ball in the net

England scored four goals at Euro 2016, but only two were from open play and, in 180 minutes against Slovakia (plus that crucial five minutes of stoppage time in Trnava), they managed to score just once.

Despite an array of attacking talent which includes England’s all-time record goalscorer (Wayne Rooney) and last season’s top two scorers in the Premier League (Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy), the finishing displayed in recent internationals has been woeful.

It was an area of concern identified by Allardyce in the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Slovakia, when England created more than 20 goalscoring opportunities, but failed to take one until almost the final kick of the game.

It is becoming a recurring theme, and a worrying one, that sees England dominate possession, but fail to capitalise by killing opponents off.

Malta will travel to Wembley with the intention of frustrating England, looking to defend in numbers and escape with a draw or low-scoring defeat.

It could lead to another difficult night, but if Allardyce can work on his players’ finishing and urge the likes of Kane to shoot first time, rather than take a touch, or instruct Raheem Sterling to take a chance instead of looking for a pass, then the goals may start to flow again.

Rooney – a help or hindrance?

By insisting that Wayne Rooney “can play wherever he wants,” Allardyce risks the England captain becoming a law unto himself out on the pitch.

Rooney’s desire to roam has always been an issue, one which Sir Alex Ferguson attempted to address at Manchester United by urging the player to let the ball come to him rather than the other way around.

But in Slovakia on Sunday, Rooney played on the left of midfield, in a number ten role behind Harry Kane and then as a deep-lying midfielder alongside Eric Dier.

There were plenty of crossfield passes, but not enough moments of inspiration likely to lead to a crucial intervention.

Rooney’s best moment was a late ten-yard through-ball to Theo Walcott – wasted by the Arsenal winger – which was delivered in the final third, where he should be doing most damage.

Rooney’s feet are not quick enough to play as a classic number ten, but he lacks the engine and defensive instinct to play alongside Dier.

At 30, he seems to have decided that playing as a forward is no longer for him, but he needs to settle on a role and perform it well to avoid becoming the elephant in the room for Allardyce.

Rooney doesn't possess the skills to play in midfielder alongside Dier (Getty)

Jose Mourinho insisted from the outset at United that Rooney must play high up the field and play to his attacking strengths and Allardyce must do the same.

And if Dele Alli ultimately offers a better option in that area, then the simple truth is that Rooney should make way for the Tottenham youngster.

Creativity in the final third

England play in straight lines in the final third and they are painfully predictable – a problem caused by the lack of an English David Silva or Mesut Özil.

There is precious little craft or guile –Sterling offers pace, but a lack of awareness down one flank, while Lallana gives energy and commitment, but no real creativity on the other side.

Alli is not a ball-playing number ten, but the Spurs midfielder does have the ability to play the ball around the corner to Kane and it is that kind of guile and vision that England need to work on if they are to become a serious challenger on the world stage.

Dele Alli offered England something they lacked without him (Getty)

Rooney, if his feet were as quick as those of Paul Scholes in his prime, would be a contender to add the vision required, but the England captain is too heavy-legged to play the quick, slide-rule pass.

But until Allardyce can find a solution, the likes of Kane, Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge will be starved of proper service because the tactic of stretching defences with balls out to the flanks does not work at international level.

Plugging the leaks at full-back

England are blessed with an array of attacking full-backs, but there were moments against Slovakia when both Danny Rose and Kyle Walker were caught out defensively.

The first purpose of a full-back is to defend, even in these days of gung-ho attacking defenders, and England have a weakness down both sides.

If Luke Shaw can regain full fitness and form at Manchester United, where he has started the season well, Allardyce possesses a ready-made solution to the left-back problem.

Shaw can strengthen the left side of the defence (Getty)

Rose did well at Euro 2016 and he certainly offers pace, athleticism and tenacity which will make him a strong rival to Shaw – but there are undoubted defensive deficiencies in his game.

The same applies to Walker, who now appears to have jumped ahead of Nathaniel Clyne as England’s first-choice right-back.

Both Walker and Clyne offer an attacking outlet, but they both suffer from a lack of defensive focus and concentration at times.

Walker needs to add a defensive mindset to his game or risk being exposed (Getty)

Against a high-quality opponent, they would be identified as a weak-link and Allardyce must find a way to plug the leaks.

Getting Wilshere back in the fold

Jack Wilshere’s progress on loan at Bournemouth will be scrutinised closely by Allardyce and his coaching staff.

Despite omitting the injury-ravaged 24-year-old from his squad for the Slovakia game, Allardyce insisted Wilshere would be selected if and when he was playing regularly for Arsenal.

By leaving the Emirates for a season on loan at Bournemouth, Wilshere will not be exposed to the top level challenge of playing in the Champions League or at the business end of the Premier League, but the flip side is that, if fit, he will play every week.

And for all of his injuries, Wilshere is a top-class midfielder when fit and at his best and is a player who can offer rare quality to Allardyce’s squad as both a deep-lying midfielder or one deployed further forward.

If fit, Wilshere could yet prove the greatest threat to Wayne Rooney’s place in the team because he offers a much more rounded option in the role alongside Eric Dier.

At 24, he has years ahead of him and could form an exciting core of the team alongside Dier and just behind Dele Alli.

But he has to get fit and stay fit, and become a stand-out performer for Bournemouth first.

He has five weeks before the Malta game, however, so even in that short period, Wilshere can make an impression on Allardyce.

Is Marcus Rashford really not ready for the senior team?

Marcus Rashford will play for England Under-21s against Norway at Colchester on Tuesday evening, with both Sam Allardyce and Jose Mourinho believing that a spell with the juniors will accelerate the Manchester United forward’s development.

But with time ticking down in Slovakia and England struggling to find a breakthrough, the absence of the 18-year-old from Allardyce’s senior squad appeared more and more perplexing.

Rashford has now scored nine goals in 20 appearances for United and he is displaying an enviable knack of delivering on the big occasion and when it matters.

Rashford has all the aspects to grow into a world-class player (Getty)

He has pace to burn, the confidence to run at defenders and, when in front of goal, the cool and calculated air of a world-class finisher.

He is by no means in the world-class bracket yet, but he is showing the signs of being a precious talent and there is no reason why he should not be thrust onto the senior stage as Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney were as precocious teenagers.

If Rashford is good enough for Manchester United, he is good enough for England and he should be in the squad for the Malta and Slovenia games.