If anyone still felt Gareth Southgate was going to be a mere place-holder as England manager, or the company-man conservative choice, his approach to Wayne Rooney and the captaincy should banish that.

The 46-year-old did not just leave the country’s record goalscorer out of his squad for next week's friendly away to Germany and home World Cup qualifier against Lithuania, but refused to offer much in the way of conciliatory words about what could be done to get back in, while pointedly highlighting the need to look to the future by stating “the need for others to step forward”. Southgate also downplayed the much-vaunted importance of the captaincy.

Rooney’s omission is all the more pointed because England are missing the injured Harry Kane and, although the Manchester United star has been struggling for fitness himself, Southgate confirmed it was his lack of playing time in the Premier League that had influenced the decision.

Wayne Rooney's career in pictures Show all 18 1 /18 Wayne Rooney's career in pictures Wayne Rooney's career in pictures Breakthrough goal - 2002 Five days before his 17th birthday, Wayne Rooney scored a wonder goal against Arsenal in 2002 as the world realised his talent. Getty Wayne Rooney's career in pictures Switch to United - 2004 A £25.6m fee was soon agreed with Manchester United - despite interest from Newcastle - as Rooney switched Goodison Park for Old Trafford in 2004. Getty Wayne Rooney's career in pictures On the international stage - 2004 It got better for the powerful striker when he scored four goals in as many matches at Euro 2004. Getty Wayne Rooney's career in pictures The stunning goals continue - 2005 It wasn't long before Rooney had become a mainstay in Sir Alex Ferguson's United side, typified by his olley against Newcastle at Old Trafford. Getty Wayne Rooney's career in pictures The red mist descends - 2006 Always a cantankerous player, Rooney's demons haunted him at the 2006 World Cup in Germany as he was sent off for a stamp against Portugal. Getty Wayne Rooney's career in pictures First of many titles - 2007 Rooney had to wait until 2007 for his first taste of Premier League glory, scoring 14 goals as United lifted the title in 2008. Getty Wayne Rooney's career in pictures European glory - 2008 A year later, Rooney was invaluable to Ferguson again as the north west outfit defeated Chelsea in Moscow on penalties to win the Champions League. Getty Wayne Rooney's career in pictures Controversy returns - 2010 As England struggled to a 0-0 draw against Algeria in South Africa, the former Everton striker told supporters exactly what he thought about them into camera. Getty Wayne Rooney's career in pictures World Cup woe - 2012 Despite finally scoring for England at a World Cup in 2014, Rooney was unable to prevent a torrid group stage exit under Roy Hodgson in Brazil. Getty Wayne Rooney's career in pictures Contract talks - 2012 Rooney twice risked incurring the wrath of Ferguson during their time together, famously truning down a contract offer and threatening to leave until better terms were presented. Getty Wayne Rooney's career in pictures Success continues - 2013 In Ferguson's final season in charge, Rooney helped lift another Premier League title in 2013 alongside strike partner Robin van Persie. Getty Wayne Rooney's career in pictures Record breaker - 2015 In 2015, Rooney broke Sir Bobby Charlton's England goalscoring record with his 50th international goal from a penalty in a Euro 2016 qualifying match against Switzerland. Getty Wayne Rooney's career in pictures Switch to midfield - 2016 As Rooney began to age, then-United manager Louis van Gaal switched Rooney into midfielder where he helped the club lift the FA Cup in the Dutchman's last game in charge. Getty Wayne Rooney's career in pictures Mourinho era begins - 2017 Rooney lifts the League Cup trophy, the first major success under Jose Mourinho. Getty Wayne Rooney's career in pictures Record breaker, again - 2017 Rooney became United's all-time top goalscorer, beating Sir Bobby Charlton's long-standing record, after a last-gasp equaliser at Stoke City Getty Wayne Rooney's career in pictures European triumph - 2017 Rooney comes on in the closing minutes as United beat Ajax 2-0 to win the Europa League. Getty Wayne Rooney's career in pictures Return to Goodison - 2017 Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring against Stoke at Goodison Park, his first goal after returning to Everton (AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Wayne Rooney's career in pictures Retirement from international football - 2017 The England captain hangs up his boots in September 2017. "Every time I was selected as a player or captain was a real privilege and I thank everyone who helped me," he said. "But I believe now is the time to bow out." Getty

Rooney’s future at Old Trafford under Jose Mourinho is increasingly doubtful and, having turned down a move to the Chinese Super League at the end of February, he is now increasingly expected to leave at the end of the season. Southgate’s decision will likely further influence that, since Rooney is known to greatly want to sign off his England career with the 2018 World Cup.

The manager also indicated how the United player is mainly considered a playmaker, but that he couldn’t be picked there right now ahead of either Dele Alli or Adam Lallana given their form. It is further proof that Southgate will genuinely break from old traditions, and not be guided by past reputation.

“We have to look at Wayne as a number 10, which is his predominant role,” Southgate said. “In the last two games we’ve played Dele there, we’ve played Adam Lallana there. Both are playing very well, scoring and assisting for their clubs. Ross Barkley has been playing very well for his club. So there’s competition. I can’t dress that up any other way.



“Wayne is not ruled out for the weekend. But there is also a need for others to step forward. We have this thing about ‘an England captain’, but really the captain is the person who is captain in the next game.”

It is becoming increasingly clear Southgate will no longer indulge those not getting regular football just because they are big names, as he wants to play a more modern style of football.

Rooney was dropped by Southgate for a World Cup qualifier against Slovenia last October (Getty)

“The physical part of how we play is quite crucial. If I look towards longer-term tournaments, being physically able to play games in a short period of time is going to be a critical factor.

“We want to press, I want a team with a lot of energy, so if you are a bit short of match fitness with your club, to make that jump internationally is going to be a tough call because generally [international level] takes more energy. The week can take more out of you. If you’re not getting those minutes regularly for your club it’s harder to hit that level.”

For all the debate about whether Southgate was a company man in being selected to succeed Sam Allardyce, he is showing an admirable willingness to move the English side away from some of the old traditions that have weighed them down and only added to pressure in the past. There is a freshness about what he's doing and how he's explaining it, and it could well bring a freshness to the team.