Jamie Carragher, Jamie Redknapp and Graeme Souness debate where Wayne Rooney ranks among the greats after his brace against Scotland Jamie Carragher, Jamie Redknapp and Graeme Souness debate where Wayne Rooney ranks among the greats after his brace against Scotland

After England captain Wayne Rooney's two goals helped beat Scotland 3-1 at Celtic Park on Tuesday night, debate has been raging as to where the striker now ranks in the pantheon of the nation's greatest-ever players.

Rooney’s second-half double in Glasgow took the 29-year-old’s overall tally for his country to 46 goals in 101 internationals, just three behind Sir Bobby Charlton’s all-time Three Lions scoring record.

He is captain of Manchester United, and captain of England too, so he is indispensable, you cannot leave him out of this side. Jamie Redknapp

With six strikes since being handed the captaincy in the aftermath of England’s hugely disappointing World Cup campaign in Brazil last summer, and 18 overall in 28 internationals under manager Roy Hodgson, Rooney is now being mentioned in the same breath as the likes of legendary figures such as Charlton, Bobby Moore and Sir Stanley Matthews.

However, not all of the Sky Sports pundits were in agreement about the player’s current standing in both the national and world game. Jamie Carragher, Jamie Redknapp and Graeme Souness discussed the issue after the full-time whistle.

CARRAGHER: “He will become the greatest goalscorer for England, there’s no doubt about that, and he will possibly also beat the caps record as well, and all week when he got his 100 caps people were saying: ‘Is he an England great? Where does he rank?’

“Of course he is an England great, he is going to be our greatest goalscorer. But is he a world great like [Lionel] Messi and [Cristiano] Ronaldo? No he is not.

“But over these last 12 to 18 months, there have been questions asked about Rooney. You go back to the World Cup, people did not want him in the team, which is absolute nonsense, he should always be in the team - and not because he is putting in great performances. When can you remember the last time that he was the star man, putting in an absolutely unbelievable performance? He played really well tonight and scored two goals – but he is in the team now because he scores.

Highlights from the friendly at Celtic Park as Scotland took on England Highlights from the friendly at Celtic Park as Scotland took on England

“You go back to the World Cup, we only scored two, he set one up and scored the other, and that is what he continually does for England, but we may not see the Rooney we remember from that Euros in Portugal, where he lit up the tournament. I do not think we will see that again.”

SOUNESS: “I would not get too carried away with Rooney scoring two goals against Scotland, he is playing against Championship players tonight. I agree that he has been a great player for England, but what adjective would you use to describe Ronaldo and Messi, if you are using 'great' to describe Rooney? It is different planets.

REDKNAPP: “He is captain of Manchester United, and captain of England too, so he is indispensable, you cannot leave him out of this side now. When we needed him the most tonight, he was the one player who made that huge moment come for the third goal. A little bit of movement, and he scores, and I do not think that there is ever a question whether Rooney should play for England.

“He would always be in my team and it is between Danny Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge now as to who plays alongside Rooney.”

Watch the post-match Rooney debate above.