Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson admits he'd be happy to bring DC United striker Wayne Rooney back to England.

He regrets him leaving these shores to play in the MLS with DC United when the former England boss believed Roo still had much to offer here.

Hodgson said: “I think he left England too early. He still has much to offer. He is doing fantastically well. At DC they were well down in the league when he got there, but since he's arrived he has been fantastic, not just scoring goals, but decisive goals, like the one we saw in midweek.

“There is no doubt the talent he has and he is showing he could still play top level English football.

“But it was his decision and after Manchester United and Everton, where he had tremendous affinity, deep roots, maybe he would not have been that interested in playing for another English club outside those two.

“It was a conscious decision to play abroad. I have a great deal of respect for Wayne, and I think he does for me.

“I would have loved him here at Palace, but he thought long and hard about his decision, and without a shadow of doubt would have talked it over with his family, because he is very much a family man."