Everton's Wayne Rooney will not come out of international retirement to play for England

The former England captain ruled out the possibility of a return to international football after manager Gareth Southgate offered to recall him to the squad against Malta.

England captain Wayne Rooney retires from international duty

Everton striker Wayne Rooney will not be tempted out of international retirement for one more shot at World Cup glory.

The former Manchester United star, who on Friday was charged with drink driving, called time on his international career in August.

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Rooney, England's record goalscorer, retired from international football last month having scored a 53 goals in 119 appearances that included three World Cups and three European Championships. During his spell with the Three Lions, he failed to win a major trophy.

He made his move despite England manager Gareth Southgate offering to recall him for the World Cup qualifier against Malta on Friday, a match England won 4-0, as reported by Channel NewsAsia.

In the three World Cups that Rooney has featured in, he was shown a red card during the 2006 quarter-final defeat by Portugal, with England suffering a second-round loss to Germany in 2010 and failing to get out of their initial group in Brazil four years later.

Rooney, appeared to rule out that possibility, saying it would be unfair on his former teammates to return for the tournament alone.

"My mind's made up," Rooney told talkSPORT. "I've seen it a few times when players come out of retirement and gone to tournaments and it's not right.

"I think the lads now who are trying to qualify for Russia, if they get there then they're the players who will deserve to play in the tournament, so my decision is made."

In an interview, Rooney also claimed that Fabio Capello and his backroom team cheered Italy on at England's 2010 World Cup training camp.

"At the World Cup in South Africa, Fabio and his coaches were watching Italy play and they were jumping up and cheering when Italy scored and he's there as England manager," Rooney said.

Rooney re-joined boyhood club Everton in the pre-season after a successful 13-year spell at Premier League rivals Manchester United that saw him win five Premier League titles, one FA Cup, three League Cups, the Europa League and the 2008 Champions League, as well as becoming the Red Devils' all-time leading goal-scorer.

But he started to become more of a bit-part player following the arrival at Old Trafford of Portuguese manager and former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho. Controversy struck when he was arrested in the early hours of Friday morning and charged with drink driving. He is due to appear at Stockport magistrates' court on 18 September.

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