Wayne Rooney is now the most experienced player in Roy Hodgson’s England squad, a young veteran at the age of 28. The Manchester United forward has the opportunity to use whatever know-how gathered from more than a decade of international football in a pivotal Euro 2016 qualifier against Estonia.

Rooney’s 98 England caps are almost double the amount held by the second-highest capped player in the squad, James Milner, with 51. Milner though has rarely been anything more than a back-up player for a succession of national team bosses, a reliable hand who can do a job in a number of positions. Rooney is unquestionably the main man, captain of club and country, and it’s on his shoulders that the Three Lions’ qualification campaign lies.

The likes of Danny Welbeck and, when fit, Daniel Sturridge, will offer some support but have fewer than 50 caps and 20 goals between them. They’re relative novices to the rigours of a qualification campaign. Rooney’s first was for Euro 2004, and though he’s only five years older than Welbeck and three older than Sturridge, he has a lifetime’s more experience.

Group E was supposed to be fought out between England and Switzerland. The Swiss have though lost both of their first two games and it’s England and Lithuania who lead the way. Estonia – and Slovenia – lead the chasing pack with three points from two games. A win for England in Tallinn would deliver a heavy blow to any Estonian hopes of making the early running a three-horse race.

Switzerland should get back in it against San Marino, while the outcome of Slovenia’s trip to Lithuania will determine if England are out on their own – assuming they beat Estonia – or still neck-and-neck. England have to do their bit and make it nine points from a possible nine and Rooney – as he chases down Sir Bobby Charlton’s England scoring record – has to lead from the front.