Chris Waddle: Wayne Rooney has had it easy as England's number one striker

WAYNE ROONEY stands on the brink of establishing himself as England's all-time leading scorer and setting a new standard that surpasses all eras.

Wayne RooneyGETTY

Wayne Rooney is now just two goals off Bobby Charlton's record

Yet when Chris Waddle considers the looming achievement, he cannot help but think back to one time-span in particular and pose a question of his own.

"I look at that 10-year spell from 1986-96 when we had some good players and if Wayne was in that group of players - the Linekers, Beardsleys, Shearers and Sheringhams - would he have got as many caps? Would he have knocked them off their perch?" said Waddle.

"There were loads of players who didn't play regularly. Cole, Fowler, Ferdinand, Hateley before them even, you can reel them off.

"Every club basically had an English centre-forward who you thought, 'He could play for England.' The situation now it is hard to find an English forward.

"We stopped producing players and I don't think he has been under pressure because for the last five or six years we haven't produced strikers.

"If Harry Kane hadn't had a good season we would still be saying, 'Oh when's Sturridge fit?'

"I am not taking anything away from Wayne Rooney. He gets the finger pointed at him unnecessarily. He will beat the goals' record and his aim will be to beat the caps' record.

"You can say it has been a weaker environment, and you didn't have the people around to compete against you, but the stats are there. I would have just loved to have seen him around 1986-96. That's a good question for your paper to ask in a poll: 'Would he have got as many caps and goals?'

It is up to the likes of Harry Kane to now apply the pressure Waddle believes has been absent and for Danny Welbeck to maintain his own standards.

Hodgson: Kane can emulate Rooney [AMBIENT]

Rooney is a street footballer and what I really like is his appetite to play

Chris Waddle

Yet the poacher's finish Rooney dispatched against Lithuania to score his 47th England goal, and move to within two strikes of matching Sir Bobby Charlton, and an effervescent all-round performance at Wembley served as a reminder that he will take some shifting.

"He is a street footballer and what I really like is his appetite to play," said Waddle. "It is like going back 20-30 years. I was fortunate to play with a lot of lads who actually loved playing football and he just gives me that impression.

"He is one of them that if he is walking through the park and some kids are having a kick about, he will join in.

"People categorise players. Don't forget Wayne Rooney has never come out and said he is the world's greatest or that he is world class.

"Messi and Ronaldo? No, he is not in that league. But he has been a very good player and someone who has always been up there in English football.

"He has been at the top for a long time and it is not easy to stay at that level for such a long period.

"He shoulders a lot of the responsibility which I think is unjust. People forget football is a team game. He will say he could have played better in certain tournaments and certain games, but everyone can say that.

"You have to say he has been the most consistent striker over the last five or six years. He is very important to the way England play.

If the new boys emerge, if Kane and people like that come on the scene and do the business then Wayne might come under more pressure.

"He may have to tailor his position slightly, but to get the caps he has got and the amount of goals he is going to get says a lot."

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