England and Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has recently been praised by Three Lions manager Roy Hodgson for his professionalism during the international matches against Spain and France.
No break
The 30-year-old was a second-half substitute in Spain on Friday before starting on the right wing at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday against the French. Hodgson spoke about experimenting the side heading into the European Champions in France next June.
"We realised with all the players we have missing that there was going to be an element of experimentation in these two matches," says Hodgson.
The England manager told reporters "you can never doubt his professionalism." The 68-year-old praised Rooney's "desire" to do the "right thing for England.
He then later said that he denied Rooney was omitted from the game with the European Champions because of form that has seen him score just seven goals in 18 games in all competitions this season for Manchester United.
Roaring Lion
After November's international break came to an end, so did Rooney's 2015 wearing an English shirt, which became a historic one.
As captain, he led the Three Lions to a second straight European Championship and is expected to play in his third tournament scoring five goals in the two times he has apperared.
However history occured just two months ago when on 8 September 2015, Rooney broke Sir Bobby Charlton's England goalscoring record, netting his 50th international goal from a penalty in a Euro 2016 qualifying match against Switzerland, at Wembley, in his 107th appearance for England, where he also equalled former England teammate Ashley Cole as his country's fifth-highest capped player.
Rooney netted the second England goal of the night against France which was more than just a football match.
In the light of recent events in France, fans and players became united in what was an emotional game for all involved. La Marseillaise and God Save The Queen were played in succession as Wembley donned the red, white and blue.