England manager Gareth Southgate has jumped to the defence of Wayne Rooney after England's No10 was subjected to a number of boos during the 2-0 win over Malta at Wembley, as reported bySky Sports.
Two first-half goals from Daniel Sturridge and Dele Alli secured the three points in England's second World Cup Qualifier match in what was a largely comfortable affair for the Three Lions. Rooney, who had lost his place in the Manchester United starting eleven, started in midfield alongside Alli and Jordan Henderson.
His inclusion in Southgate's first eleven had a major talking point beforehand but the former England U21 boss has insisted his captain deserves respect after being informed of the audible jeers at Wembley.
"The criticism of him is at times unfair," he said."He ploughs on and plays with pride and captains his country with pride.
"I look back to John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole. In their time with England they took an enormous amount of criticism and yet when you look at the number of caps they got they were the guys that kept turning out.
"They were the ones that really put themselves on the line when some other players would not put themselves forward in those moments and withdrew from squads when the going got tough.
"Those guys are the ones that desperately wanted to play for England again and again and put their neck on the block. I think Wayne falls into that category.
"The booing? I don't understand it but that seems to be the landscape and I have no idea how that's expected to help him."