Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal wants England to go easy on skipper Wayne Rooney.

Van Gaal would like United and Three Lions skipper Rooney to sit out England's now-academic final two Euro 2016 qualifiers, against Estonia at Wembley on Friday night and in Lithuania three days later, says the People.

With England already qualified for Euro 2016 in France next summer, he'd like Roy Hodgson to leave him out of the Lithuania game altogether after a hectic start to the season for the 29-year-old.

Van Gaal said: “He is the captain of the team. I would be very pleased if he was used sparingly for England, because Rooney is playing all the matches with me.

“But I know you cannot mix the interests of the English national team with Manchester United."