Glenn Hoddle: Manchester United Star is England's Classiest Player

Former England manager Glenn Hoddle insists Wayne Rooney deserves to start against Ukraine, despite Andy Carroll's impressive performance in the victory against Sweden.

Rooney is expected to partner Manchester United team-mate Danny Welbeck in Kiev on Tuesday, after missing England's opening two matches through suspension.

The Manchester United striker was banned after being sent off for kicking Montenegro's Miodrag Dzudovic during England's final Euro 2012 qualifier in October. But Hoddle believes manager Roy Hodgson will have little hesitation in starting Rooney in Donetsk tomorrow night.

"Hodgson won't have any hesitation in bringing back the suspended Wayne Rooney to face Ukraine on Tuesday night, even though he has been suspended for England's successful opening group games," Hoddle told the Daily Mail.

"The old adage that you shouldn't change a winning team doesn't apply in modern international football because managers have to study the opposition and pick players who exploit their weaknesses.

"He is our classiest player and we'll need him as the tournament gets tougher.

"Importantly, Roy will want him to recover some match sharpness before a possible quarter-final against Italy, Spain or Croatia. "

Carroll staked his claim to remain in the side by opening the scoring with an emphatic header in England's 3-2 win over Sweden in Kiev on Friday. But it appears likely that the Liverpool striker will have to settle for a place on the bench for the crucial clash against co-hosts Ukraine.

With 28 goals in 74 caps for England, Rooney is guaranteed a place on Hodgson's team sheet, with the 26-year-old's relationship with Welbeck at Manchester United likely to mean Carroll misses out.

"International managers are paid to make big decisions and this is a really tough call for Roy," said Hoddle.

"Carroll and Welbeck both have strong cases to stay in the team after their displays in Kiev. Against Sweden, he was excellent. The goal was the crowning glory, a beautiful ball from Steven Gerrard and a stunning header from the big feller. If Mario Gomez had scored that for Germany, we would be purring about it.

"Welbeck's back-heeled winner was the cutest you'll ever see. It was something you might have expected from the opposition forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic but Welbeck has shown us on more than one occasion that he has some exceptional skills, too.

"It's a good position for Roy to be in. If plan A doesn't work, Carroll is full of confidence if called upon. And, by the way, Rooney will also feel he has something to prove now.

"If Roy brings him into a winning team, he has to justify that selection. I think England will beat Ukraine. The hosts didn't offer much when I saw their game against France on Friday. And from there the whole tournament could snowball."