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Wayne Rooney has come out fighting as the debate over his position – and first-team place – rages on.

The United striker insisted his England place is not guaranteed – and never has been.

He hit back as the discussion over whether Roy Hodgson should drop him intensifies.

Rooney was stuck out on the left wing for the 2-1 defeat to Italy on Saturday night and that has raised question marks about whether it is time to take him out of the starting line-up.

But he angrily claimed that he has worked hard for his place in the England team – but doesn’t simply expect to play. “I’ve never felt that. Why would I feel my place in the team is guaranteed?” snapped Rooney.

“I work hard to try and get into that team. I have never said my place is guaranteed. I don’t expect to play, I work hard. I want to play.

“We have got a lot of good, young players so we will all work hard, all give the manager different options, different choices and whoever he picks then I am sure we will all respect that.”

The Rooney debate is becoming a burning issue kicked off before the tournament by his former United team-mate Paul Scholes who claimed he had peaked and questioned whether Hodgson would have the nerve to drop him.

But Scholes was also frustrated by the role handed to Rooney on Saturday and called for him to be used as a centre-forward.

“The disappointing thing was not the way Wayne Rooney played but where he was played,” Scholes said.

“I’ve previously said the best position for Wayne is centre forward. If you think about the contenders at the World Cup and goalscorers – Holland play (Robin van Persie) in his best position, Brazil play Neymar where he wants to play, Argentina with Messi, Portugal with Ronaldo.

“I don’t blame Wayne one little bit but he was played in three different positions. He’s without a doubt England’s best goalscorer but he was played on the left, played on the right, then in the centre.

“Where’s the confidence in Wayne to say: ‘You’re our main player. You’re our centre forward’? If he plays there, he scores goals.”

Even Hodgson admitted that, while he was pleased with Rooney’s work rate, he needs him to be in the penalty box more often.

Hodsgon said: “We want him in the area I thought he set up the goal really well . But, yes, we want Wayne in the box, we will get Wayne in the box.”