West Bromwich Albion boss Roy Hodgson dubbed Wayne Rooney "world class" after defeat at Manchester United.

As an outsider to replace Fabio Capello as England manager, Hodgson could yet be the unfortunate recipient of Rooney's absence from the first two Euro 2012 games through suspension.

"Rooney is a world-class player and will be a major loss for England in the first two matches of Euro 2012," he said.

"We have come to terms for so long now that he won't be there that you start to think it won't matter and we will get over it.

"But I think you will find that the end of those two matches a lot of people are going to be talking about the fact Wayne Rooney was suspended and had he been able to play it would have helped England's chances."