New England boss will take time to decide on captain

BURTON-UPON-TRENT, England (AP) -- Although new England manager Sam Allardyce will take his time before deciding if Wayne Rooney continues as captain, he already has a clearer idea of how he wants the national team to play.

Rooney, England's all-time leading scorer, led England at the recent European Championship in France, where it lost 2-1 to Iceland in the last 16. The humiliating defeat prompted Roy Hodgson to resign as coach.

Having helped Sunderland avoid relegation from the Premier League last season the 61-year-old Allardyce quit the club to replace Hodgson, and he held his first news conference at St George's Park yesterday.

Asked if Rooney would be his captain, Allardyce said it was "far too early" to decide. He added that he first needs to meet with his players and staff before England's qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup begins in September.