ayers I think Kane and Vardy are ahead of him on fo

Wales star Jamie Roberts has delivered a damning verdict on his performance against opening autumn opponents Australia and says he fully respected head coach Rob Howleys decision to drop him.Roberts has been restored to the Wales midfield for Saturdays Principality Stadium appointment with Japan, when he will win an 85th cap and extend a 45-Test midfield partnership with fellow British and Irish Lion Jonathan Davies.And the 30-year-old Harlequins centre is determined to bounce back after paying a hefty and unfamiliar price for Wales 32-8, five-try Wallabies defeat earlier this month by losing his place when they took on -- and beat -- Argentina six days ago.I could think of a few four-letter expletives to describe how I played against Australia, Roberts said. The hardest thing was probably trying to find a reason why, but it was nothing more and nothing less than a bad day at the office.I pride myself on consistency of performance, especially defensively, but it was a disappointing day personally and for the side. I certainly didnt deserve to play last weekend.Having spoken to Rob after the Australia game, I fully respected his decision. Its the nature of what we do. Its a competitive squad here, and we know if we dont perform, you dont deserve to keep the jersey.So I did a bit of soul-searching and certainly had a few sleepless nights, but you learn from it and I am ready and raring to go again this weekend.I walked off the pitch against Australia with a big inkling that I was going to be dropped. I made mistakes -- mistakes I dont normally make -- and that was the hardest thing was trying to find the reason why.I have been playing well this season and came into the camp with confidence. I had a poor performance. I am not over-thinking it.The competition in the squad is strong, especially at centre, and if you dont play well you dont deserve to keep the jersey.That is what drives us all forward, and hopefully thats what will drive me forward this week with a point to prove. Thats what Test rugby is about, and we are all in a better place for it.Roberts was an unused replacement last weekend as Wales edged out the Pumas 24-20, but he has dismissed any notion of Japans Cardiff visit providing him with an opportunity for redemption.Its not a shot at redemption -- it would be selfish to say that -- its about Wales winning and playing my part in that, he added. You learn from it. It has given me a new perspective, given me a kick up the backside, which I hope, when I look back on this season, that I needed. That is the way I am treating it.Wales have beaten Japan eight times in nine Tests, and that domination should continue with something to spare on Saturday, building further momentum ahead of next weeks autumn finale against South Africa.And one of the highlights could be an appearance off the bench by 18-year-old uncapped Ospreys wing Keelan Giles, whose devastating finishing ability and blistering pace have already seen him being mentioned in the same breath as Wales record try-scorer Shane Williams.I cant remember a guy as evasive as Keelan since Shane Williams, said Roberts, continuing the theme. We have had a drill in training when were put up one on one with Keelan, and it has been quite embarrassing.He is a frightening prospect, and I hope he gets a chance to come on and show his worth and show his potential. He is a humble lad and he knows this is a big opportunity for him. He has the potential to cause carnage. Brad Wieck Jersey . 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It is a topic being hotly debated right now, given the England managers range of options in forward positions and Rooneys recent switch to a midfield role for Manchester United after a poor goal return up front this season.There has also been an intriguing twist, with news Rooney has told Hodgson he would prefer to play at the base of a midfield diamond, effectively as a holding midfielder, according to Sky sources. Ahead of Englands friendly with Turkey on Sunday and with the help of Sky Sports Now guests Stuart Pearce, Alan Smith and Danny Higginbotham and Sky Sports Jamie Carragher, we look at the range of options - and whether Rooney should be in Englands starting XI at all. England announce their squad for the Euro 2016 friendlies. Up frontWayne Rooney is Englands record goal scorer, with 51 strikes for his country from 109 caps. Since his international debut in 2003 he has been a fixture in the Three Lions frontline.However, Rooney has struggled to find the net at European Championships and World Cups - he has scored just twice in 13 appearances at major tournaments since his four goals at Euro 2004. The way Kane has played this season and the way hes played for England of late, I think hes going to be difficult to shift. Jamie Carragher Now, with Tottenhams Harry Kane and Leicesters Jamie Vardy the top two scorers in England and Rooney returning just seven league goals for Manchester United in 2015/16, he is not necessarily an automatic selection up front.The more I watch Kane and Vardy - Kane mainly, I think hes going to be difficult to shift from playing that position now, says Carragher. I know Kane has come late [to the England set-up in Euro 2016 qualifying], similar to what Wayne did when he was a youngster in Euro 2004, but the way Kane has played this season and the way hes played for England of late, I think hes going to be difficult to shift. On the left of a 4-3-3 At the World Cup, England started Wayne Rooney on the left, with Daniel Sturridge up top Rooney started the 2014 World Cup on the left of a front three featuring Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck and that role could be an option again for the England captain, with Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy taking up the other spots.Smith says that may be the best way to incorporate Rooney into the starting XI - he teed up Sturridges strike in the 2-1 defeat to Italy with a cross from the left. Ive got a feeling Hodgson will go 4-3-3 and Wayne Rooney on the left, which isnt ideal but hes done it before, Smith told Sky Sports Now. Rooney has done it in World Cups and it might be thats how we accommodate him. One of the problems you have with a 4-3-3 and Rooney on the left is when youre defending you go into a 4-5-1 and youre expecting Rooney to track the full-back. Danny Higginbotham However, Higginbotham believes that option could prove detrimental to both England and Rooney when the opposition have the ball.One of the problems you have is if you do play 4-3-3 and Rooney on the left, when youre defending you go into a 4-5-1 and youre expecting Rooney to track the full-back, he said. We saw in the World Cup against Italy when Rooney was asked to track Matteo Darmian and it was a big problem.As a number 10 behind one or two strikers Could Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy form an effective strike partnership for England? If Hodgson sees Rooney as central to his creative play, a No 10 role behind one or two strikers could be a solution. Its an option Higginbotham favours.I think Rooney could play at the tip of the diamond, he said. If youve got players like Vardy and Kane who are going to stretch the opposition, that gives Rooney time and space on the ball to dictate play.If you play with a diamond and you play with Eric Dier holding, that alloows you to play a forward-thinking system.ddddddddddddWe should go into a tournament now and forget about the opposition - let them worry about England as a nation. We went into the World Cup and worried about Andrea Pirlo against Italy and Luis Suarez against Uruguay, and still lost both of those games. If England play that set-up, there are going to be a lot of nations that are going to be fearful.At the base of a diamond Former England defender Jamie Carragher thinks Wayne Rooney may have to play in midfield to make room for Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy. A more controversial and surprising option - although one Rooney is seemingly keen on himself - is to position the Manchester United man at the base of a midfield diamond.The theory would be that, from a deeper role, Rooney would have time on the ball to dictate play. However, would playing a former centre forward in front of the England defence make Hodgsons side vulnerable when they dont have the ball? Alan Smith thinks so.Jack Wilshere has played at the base of a diamond and hes not a defensive-minded player and did it quite successfully, said Smith. But I do think if youre playing two up top, to have someone who isnt defensive-minded at the base is a real risk. Dier seems tailor made for it. He knows the position inside out now, having played there for Spurs. If youre playing two up top, to have someone who isnt defensive-minded at the base is a real risk. Alan Smith Pearce agrees. I wouldnt drop Rooney in front of the back four, he said. The Achilles heel of the England squad is at centre-half. Thats what cost us in Brazil. Thats why we came home early, because we couldnt defend in the middle of our defence. So to put an attacker there, as your shield in front of your centre-halves is a big gamble.Like the other two pundits, Higginbotham believes a role at the base of a midfield diamond should be reserved for Tottenhams Dier.If youre looking at the alternatives, someone like Dier is there, who is a converted centre-half. Football is now going a lot towards counter-attacking, so if your two full-backs are going to be bombing on, and youve got your two centre-backs, Id want someone like Dier there.Dier has been sensational and the way he works with the two centre-backs - especially at Spurs this season, when Spurs have been attacking - I think its invaluable to have that defensive-minded midfielder there.Do you play him at all? Could Wayne Rooney find himself on the bench in France? Of course, an alternative option for Hodgson is to not play Rooney at all. Does he have more suitable options across the field? Pearce believes Rooney has plenty of competition to make the starting XI in France.Rooney is a must-pick for England in the squad, definitely. But, for the starting line-up, hes got his work cut out, said Pearce.Up front, if youre going to play one or two players I think Kane and Vardy are ahead of him on form. If youre talking about playing somebody in just behind your strikers, I think Dele Alli, that suits him better and hes slightly better at it than Wayne. Rooney is a must-pick for England in the squad. But, for the starting line-up, hes got his work cut out. Stuart Pearce So youre look at playing Wayne either wide or in a midfield berth. Hes got it all on to fight his way into the team - but hes certainly well worth his position in the squad.It would be a major story if Hodgson were to omit his captain - but the England manager must do whats best for the team, says Smith.The problem Roy Hodgson has got is that he will want to play his captain, his record scorer, he told Sky Sports Now. Its almost shoe-horning Rooney in or finding a system to accommodate Wayne, which can be a dangerous thing.Where do you think England should play Wayne Rooney at Euro 2016 - if at all? Also See: Rashford and Wilshere in squad England squad named - as it happened Hodgson: No Rooney guarantees What now for Walcott? ' ' '