Wayne Rooney goes joint top of England goalscoring chart
Wayne Rooney: England striker sets sights on breaking record
Striker Wayne Rooney has set his sights on becoming England's highest goalscorer after equalling Sir Bobby Charlton's record against San Marino.
Rooney, 29, scored a first-half penalty to move to 49 goals with Charlton, before being replaced by Harry Kane.
"To be level with Sir Bobby is a huge honour, a great moment and something I am very proud of," the Manchester United skipper told Golsicilia.it Radio 5 live.
"Hopefully I will surpass that and become the outright leader."
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Hodgson defends taking off Rooney
Rooney was substituted in the second half, being replaced by Tottenham's Harry Kane
England manager Roy Hodgson insisted the surprise substitution of Rooney was always going to happen – and he hopes he can make history against Switzerland at Wembley on Tuesday.
They romped to a 6-0 win in San Marino, confirming their qualification for Euro 2016 in France next summer.
Hodgson feels it is inevitable Rooney will soon score that record 50th international goal, so there was no significance in the fact he replaced his captain after less than an hour in San Marino.
"It was planned – in fact the team we put out was planned with a view to Tuesday night against Switzerland," said Hodgson.
"It would be nice if Wayne got his 50th goal against Switzerland, but one thing is for certain is that he will get it [eventually]. It is not as if this was his last game and his only chance.
"If this was his last game for England and he needed that one goal, then I wouldn't have taken him off."
Shelvey shines on England return
Hodgson was delighted with the performance of Swansea midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, who was outstanding on his first England appearance in almost three years.
He said: "I thought Jonjo showed really maturity out there. We all know what he can do with his passes and with his capacity to find passe,s but I also thought he was extremely assured in possession.
"He played some good long passes, some visionary passes. He was excellent."
Young guns win Hodgson praise
Everton's Ross Barkley and John Stones both earned praise from the England manager
Hodgson has occasionally tempered his excitement at the emergence of Ross Barkley with words of caution, but here was upbeat about the youngster and his Everton team-mate John Stones.
The duo are both only 21 and Hodgson said: "I thought Ross got stronger as the game went in on a new position, and of course he also got a goal.
"Harry Kane was getting so many plaudits last season and sometimes after the plaudits come a few slaps. He took his goal very well so we hope this will set him off.
"We also saw again that John Stones is a remarkably accomplished player for one so young and I would put Harry in the same bracket as John as two players who will have long England careers and continue to improve, and put people like Wayne Rooney, Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka under even more pressure than they are at the moment.
"Jamie Vardy also worked his socks off as well."
Time for England experimentation
England's qualification for Euro 2016 with three games to spare has handed Hodgson the perfect opportunity to study the options within his squad – and it is an opportunity which he intends to take.
He said: "I'm not sure early qualification gives us any particular advantage because we are going to take a lot of time to plan and improve anyway.
"What is could do is give me the opportunity for experimentation because we did not get that ahead of the World Cup when we had to win our last two qualifiers to get to Brazil."