Gareth Southgate confirms out-of-form Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney will continue as England captain

Gareth Southgate has said Wayne Rooney will remain England captain for the World Cup qualifier against Scotland in November.

The 30-year-old forward has lost his place in the Manchester United team after a series of poor performances and has started on the substitutes' bench in three of the club's last four league fixtures.

He was also left out of the England starting line-up for the goalless draw with Slovenia in a World Cup qualifier on 11 October.

Southgate confirmed that Rooney will be called up for England's games against Scotland and Spain next month, despite the forward not playing regular football for his club.

"He's the England captain and although he didn't start in Slovenia, to me he is a hugely influential person in that group and that won't change," the interim boss was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.

"Let's see what that scenario is but I thought his leadership qualities in the 10 days with us shone through. I hadn't been able to see that first hand and it was hugely impressive.

"I could see how he's held in the eyes of the rest of the players and the positive influence he has in that environment. If that wasn't the case I wouldn't say those things. That's as it was.

"I haven't spoken to him since the camp but I'm always conscious players are back into a run of fixtures with their clubs, but I will pick up with him and the others later."

Rooney admitted earlier this month that he was going through one of the most difficult periods of his career, but insisted that he still had plenty to offer to both United and England.

"I feel I have a lot of offer and I've made that clear, certainly until the World Cup in Russia. That's what I want," the 30-year-old was reported as saying by the Guardian.