Mourinho: Rooney 'England's best player for over a decade'

Wayne Rooney has received a glowing endorsement from Jose Mourinho, his new manager at Manchester United, described him as England's best player for over 10 years.

Accusations of crowbarring players uncomfortably into a system have been levelled at England boss Roy Hodgson, but Mourinho backs the Three Lions' gaffer's strong belief that Rooney is a nailed-on starter for Euro 2016.

"Wayne is and has been England's best player for over a decade and this game (the testimonial) will be a fitting tribute to everything he has achieved," said Mourinho, according to Arindam Rej of ESPNFC, referring to a United friendly against Rooney's boyhood club Everton on Aug. 3.

He continued on what will be his first match manning the touchline as United boss: "I'm looking forward to what will be a very special night for us both."

Rooney made his international debut with Everton in 2003, but then went on to be snapped up by then-United manager Alex Ferguson 18 months later for over £25 million.

He has since gone on to succeed Nemanja Vidic as club captain in 2014, and continues to add to his record tally of goals for England; his May 27 strike against Australia took him to 52. He skippers his country too, succeeding Steven Gerrard in 2014.

However, questions abound whether Rooney's eight Premier League goals in 2015-16 should merit an important role for his country in this summer's tournament, particularly given the prolificacy of Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane and Leicester City's Jamie Vardy in the same top-flight term.

Rooney could be deployed deeper than usual Saturday in England's Euro 2016 opener against Russia, to ensure Kane and Vardy aren't shunted out wide, therefore nullifying their effectiveness in attack.

The proceeds from Rooney's testimonial against the Toffees will be distributed through the Wayne Rooney Foundation to four chosen charities, with £5 million the target to be raised for vulnerable and disadvantaged children.