England boss Roy Hodgson has paid tribute to Wayne Rooney, as the Three Lions captain is set to become the country’s most-capped outfield player.
The Manchester United star picked up his 114th cap when he came on as a substitute in Monday’s game with Slovakia at Euro 2016.
And should Rooney return to the starting line-up for Monday’s clash with Iceland in Nice, he will level David Beckham’s record to add to his other honour as England’s record goalscorer.
Rooney is set to earn his 115th cap to level with David Beckham and become England's joint-most-capped outfield player
"It's a fantastic achievement and I'm really pleased to see Wayne getting so much credit for his performances," said Hodgson.
"If people are thinking that he's not playing well enough, that's up to them to have that opinion but as far as I was concerned, he is our captain and I believe in him as a player and I believe in him as a person.
"He's played well in the opening two games and become a crucial part of the team again and everyone seems to recognise that now.
"To come back so strongly and do that in the games that we've played so far, that says everything about him as a person and everything about him as a player - 115 caps for England is something special."
Rooney and Beckham are already in a select group of just nine players to have become centurions with England.
And Hodgson revealed that Rooney’s old United and England team-mate and former Real Madrid midfielder Beckham has been in contact during Euro 2016 to wish the squad luck in the competition.
"The players who get enormous amounts of caps for their country don't face the degree of competition for their place that an English player will, so I think he must be delighted," added Hodgson.
"And to be on the same caps as David Beckham, that's something that's worth boasting about but I'm hoping he will go on to get even more.
"I'm sure David will too, because he's constantly in touch wishing the boys luck, so I think he'll be the first one to congratulate Wayne and wish him all the luck in the world for going on to break the record."
England manager Roy Hodgson speaks to FATV
