Jermain Defoe says DC United forward Wayne Rooney can inspire England in their upcoming friendly against the USA.

England's record goalscorer called time on his international career fourteen months ago but will return for the friendly to be played at Wembley on November 15.

The match will be called 'The Wayne Rooney Foundation International' to celebrate the Liverpudlian's charitable contributions. And Defoe, who played with Rooney for the Three Lions, says the veteran can have a positive impact on Gareth Southgate's young squad.

"What a guy and what a player," Defoe told Sky Sports. "What he has done throughout his career, for club and country, he has been a special player since day one when he burst onto the scene at Everton.

"I think it will be a really special moment. I would like to go to see it because away from the football side, he is such a nice guy.

"I spent a lot of time with him with England, getting to know him, and he's a lovely man. He deserves everything he gets.

"Knowing Wayne, he'll go back into that squad a little bit nervous. He will want to impress people in training, that's what he is like, he loves his football.

"The boys will love to see him and if I was one of those young forwards, I would be thinking 'if I can achieve even half [of what Rooney has achieved], then it's special'.

"With players like that, you have to be a sponge, you have to think 'I am going to get a little bit from that'."