England manager Roy Hodgson lauded captain Wayne Rooney and midfielder Jack Wilshere after the duo combined to secure a 3-2 victory over Slovenia in Ljubljana.
Wilshere grabbed his first two England goals – both sumptuous strikes – before Rooney grabbed a late winner to maintain the Three Lions’ 100 per cent Euro 2016 qualifying record in Group E.
Rooney had spurned several gilt-edged opportunities as he closes on Sir Bobby Charlton’s international goalscoring record, but Hodgson insists his captain still illustrated has vital importance to the side.
“Wayne Rooney's performance says a lot of things about him as a man," said the England manager.
"Just before he took that chance [the winning goal] he took a nasty blow from an elbow, which could have decked many a player and led to him losing his discipline. It didn't and he got up.
"He had one or two chances that had gone begging, but when the ball fell to him he still stuck it away with aplomb.
"We can rely on that man. I'd have liked him to get a hat-trick today so all the talk of the record would be finished, but he has plenty of time."
Wilshere’s emphatic second goal of the game capped a fine team move involving Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana, but Hodgson refused to admit if the strike was the best of his three years in charge.
The 67-year added: "It's always the last one which excites me the most. I'd have to have all the goals put before me [to make a decision].
"I remember Andy Carroll's bullet header [in Euro 2012], but I'm very happy with Jack, the goals he's scored and his performance. His whole performance was quality.
"In the second half, he was controlling that midfield. It was a performance we've seen from him for a while now."
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