Striker undertakes extra shooting practice and training in Brazil after admitting his starting spot is not guaranteed

Wayne Rooney has undertaken extra training and shooting practice in an effort to keep his England place against Uruguay and finally break his World Cup duck.

The striker admitted that his place in the England team could not be guaranteed after the opening Group  D game against Italy in which he was played on both flanks.

Rooney has failed to score at three World Cup finals and questions have been raised over whether he should be restored to the centre against Uruguay on Thursday or dropped.

Clearly desperate to show his best form in Brazil, Rooney decided not to join the gentle half-hour training session on Monday involving the team who started against Italy.

Instead, the 28-year-old Manchester United forward took part in a far more intense workout at England’s military training base in Urca, Rio, with the players who had been left out of the Manaus game.

The fact that Rooney was not replaced by anyone in the group of starters pointed to the fact that, instead of facing the axe, he was more determined than ever to be at his sharpest.

Rooney is hoping to prove to Roy Hodgson, the England manager, before the Uruguay match in Sao Paulo that he is worth a place down the middle, either behind Daniel Sturridge or next to him.

After the starters against Italy had finished their session, Rooney stayed behind for extra shooting and passing drills while the rest of the substitutes played a small-sided game.

Rooney is England’s fifth highest all-time scorer with 39 goals but did not score at the 2006 and 2010 World Cup tournaments and is still looking to open his account in Brazil.

His former United team-mate Gary Neville suggested that Rooney has the backing of the England maanagement. "My opinion is that Wayne Rooney, after seeing him every day in training, is a very important player,” said Neville, now an England coach.

"We came off the pitch the other night and had our coaching debrief and there was no suggestion other than that Wayne Rooney had played pretty well for us in that game, that he had done everything we asked for.”

Danny Welbeck, Rooney’s England and United team-mate, said: “I think it could be quite frustrating at times for anyone playing out of position, but that’s football and you’ve just got to deal with it.

"It’s not up to you who picks the team, at the end of the day it is the manager’s decision and I think you’ve got to respect that, go into the game and give it 100 per cent, give it your best shot.

"I think, first and foremost, Wayne Rooney is a class player and I think wherever he is playing on the pitch he can make a massive impact. I think all the forward players with England have the flexibility to move in and round, interchange positions.

"Obviously, Wayne was on the left in the first game and in the second or third game he could be in a different position. He is the top all-time scorer for England currently playing, he has got 93 caps and he is very experienced. When he is on the pitch, he can make a difference.”

Rooney has previously become agitated and sometimes angry when he has been played out of position and not produced his best form.

Welbeck, however, is sure that Rooney will handle his current situation well. “I know Wayne is experienced,” he said. “He can pretty much handle any situation. He has been through a lot in his career. You say he is playing out of position, but he has played there plenty of times for Manchester United as well.

"He has not just played there in the Premier League, but the Champions League semi-final and final, so he is accustomed to that position and can play it well.”

Joe Hart trained with a bandage on his right ankle, but there was no suggestion that the England goalkeeper is a doubt for the Uruguay game. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could make the substitutes’ bench after the Arsenal midfielder increased his workload again having recovered from a knee injury.