Naming a 28-strong squad, Southgate also handed a first call-up to Bournemouth's in-form striker Callum Wilson, a recall to Everton defender Michael Keane, and retained Dortmund's Jadon Sancho.

England play the U.S. on November 15 before hosting Croatia in the Nations League the following Sunday, with both games live on Sky Sports.

The 33-year-old, who now plays for DC United in Major League Soccer, has not represented the Three Lions in nearly two years and the decision has been met with varied responses by players past and present.

"We're a odd country in that we bemoan the fact that we haven't achieved as much as we'd like, and then we have a player who should be held in the highest regard and we're spending a lot of time justifying giving him that tribute". He's our greatest goalscorer and so why not give him the send-off he deserves?

Southgate said he last spoke to Rooney in April, when the DC United striker visited St George's Park as an honorary ambassador for the UEFA Under-17 European Championship, but the two men did not discuss the tribute.

Wales head coach Ryan Giggs has backed Wayne Rooney's "one-off" return to the England team, saying it is a chance to play tribute to an "iconic player".

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I understand that has caused debate but for me it is a small way of appreciating what he has given to his country.

"Any opportunity for us to honour a player we will hugely respect". "I'm completely comfortable with the situation".

"I was quite happy for the tribute to be before the World Cup but Wayne did not want to detract from the team at that time, so now we have the opportunity to pay that tribute". "We've not been brilliant at that over the years".

"I think it should be appropriate that people are not heading for the tubes before he comes on, and also we have got out of the game what we wanted and not take someone off too early". "There were a lot of experienced winners in the dressing room, and me and Wayne were close in age with similar backgrounds and we just got on and clicked", Fletcher told Sky Sports News.

"Part of being a footballer is showing the resilience that would be commonplace among the squad, coming back form setbacks whether that's through rejection or injury", said Southgate.