Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney admits he faces a huge challenge to keep his England place with Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane and Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy in form.

Kane has seven in all competitions this season and has scored six in his last four after a sluggish start. Rooney has eight to his name but, worryingly, only two in the Premier League.

And the Spurs man looks a certainty to start for England in Spain tonight with Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson confirmed captain Rooney will begin on the bench in Alicante as England ramp up their preparation for the 2016 European Championships.

In-form Foxes striker Vardy – who has 11 goals in 11 Premier League appearances – has been ruled out with a knock, leaving Kane as the only option available to Hodgson.

But, sat alongside his boss addressing the press on Thursday, Rooney admitted he would face a fight to start for England whilst Kane and Vardy thrived.

He said: “Obviously, you have to understand I have played a lot of games for England and players like Jamie Vardy have come in and done well.

“If the manager needs to have a look to see what he can do at international level, so... you have to understand that.

“But of course… it’s a huge challenge to keep your place in the team and that’s what I want to do. I want to prove myself.”