Former England international Alan Shearer has backed Wayne Rooney to take over as national team captain if Steven Gerrard retires from international football.

The ex-Newcastle United player hailed the Manchester United man as the Three Lions' best player, and said that he is mature enough to lead the squad.

"If England captain Steven Gerrard decides now is the time for him to end his international career then Wayne Rooney would be my choice to succeed him as skipper," Shearer told BBC Sport.

"There are not a lot of other outstanding candidates in the squad for the job but that does not matter because Rooney is ready, and he would be perfect for the role.

"Rooney is not only England's best player but he has the experience to go along with that, and he was mature enough to deal with the scrutiny that he was under at the start of [the World Cup]."

Rooney scored one of England's two goals at the 2014 World Cup, netting a consolation during their 2-1 defeat to Uruguay.