Wayne Rooney and Michail Antonio shine as new boss Sam Allardyce holds a rare opening train session for England – while keeper Joe Hart misses out to jet to Turin and tie up Torino loan deal
Three Lions skipper prepares for World Cup qualifier against Slovakia after saying he'll quit after the 2018 finals in Russia
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NEW boy Michail Antonio looked as confident as old head Wayne Rooney as Sam Allardyce helped launch his England reign with a rare opening training session.
West Ham wideman Antonio, the big surprise in Allardyce's first Three Lions squad, and Rooney, reaffirmed as skipper despite England's 2016 debacle, sweltered in the heat ahead of Sunday's first World Cup qualifier away to Slovakia.
But Rooney was cool and relaxed just after the Manchester United striker revealed he will quit international football following the 2018 finals in Russia.
And Antonio, the only newcomer in a 23-man squad, fitted in smoothly too.
He finished training earlier than most of his new team-mates but it is thought this is because he played in the Hammers' gruelling 3-1 loss at Manchester City on Sunday.
In fact, the sole absentee from England training was City keeper Joe Hart, who was allowed to fly to Turin so he can complete a season's loan deal with Torino after being displaced as the Etihad No 1 under Pep Guardiola.
Hart will soon rejoin Allardyce's squad but he knows Southampton stopper Fraser Forster is closer than ever before to replacing him as first-choice England keeper.
Allardyce tried out some possible formations in his open session.
But the ex-Sunderland and West Ham chief gave few serious clues to his thinking ahead of his opening match in the job he has craved for most of his 25-year managerial career.
ENGLAND SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Southampton), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Tom Heaton (Burnley). Defenders: Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur). Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Michail Antonio (West Ham United), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Danny Drinkwater (Leicester City), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Theo Walcott (Arsenal). Strikers: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City).
