Rooney would have rejected recall if it broke Shilton's caps record

Wayne Rooney says he would have rejected the chance to play for England if his controversial return had meant breaking Peter Shilton's caps record.

England's all-time leading goalscorer will make his 120th and final international appearance when he comes on as a late substitute against the USA at Wembley on Thursday night.

The 33-year-old will end his international career five caps short of goalkeeper Shilton's record.

'If I was in a position where this game was going to take the record off Peter Shilton, I would never have played in it,' insisted Rooney, who is England's most-capped outfield player.

'I would never have done that. But the game isn't going to affect an outfield player or Peter Shilton in that aspect.'

Although Rooney's return has been criticised by many, he believes farewell friendlies will become commonplace.

'As a country, obviously we haven't done anything like this before,' he said. 'It's the first time. I hope, in 10 or 15 years' time, we're here for someone, say Harry Kane, who could possibly go on and get the goalscoring record, and it will be something that happens again.'

Gareth Southgate urged his players in a team meeting to fully embrace Rooney's one-off return by tapping into his wealth of experience and knowledge. Rooney also intends to address the squad before the match.

Players will back plans to make Rooney the designated penalty-taker during the minutes he is on the pitch, a clear ploy to ensure the England legend is afforded the best possible send-off.

Southgate has been at pains to ensure his young players understand the magnitude of Rooney's international career this week, even putting together a statistical analysis of the striker's contribution in the players' area at St George's Park in Burton.

On his address to the squad, Rooney added: 'Whether it's to the full group or some of the young players, we're still working out how to do that.

'I'm sure that will happen in whatever way we feel is right. But for those players, it's important they can take what they want (from what I say).'