Wayne Rooney warned by Fabio Capello that he may not regain England place after Euro 2012 ban

Capello also said the Manchester United striker “will not play” in next month’s friendly against Spain when his club-mate Danny Welbeck will feature.

Rooney’s red card in the 2-2 qualifying draw against Montenegro means Capello must prepare for the opening game of Euro 2012, and probably the second depending on next month’s Uefa disciplinary meeting, without his best player.

Capello’s hard-line stance on Rooney is a contrast to Sven-Goran Eriksson’s before the 2006 World Cup; England’s then coach made it clear that Rooney would be instantly restored to the starting XI when his metatarsal had healed. Some believe Rooney was even rushed back.

Capello sounded less accommodating. Asked whether he would countenance overlooking an available Rooney, Capello replied: “Yes, yes, yes, no, yes!’’ That solitary “no” hinted at prevarication, although the Italian then insisted he would keep faith with any understudy who shone. “If they are good, they will play.”

He will definitely take Rooney to the Euros – “yes” — even if Uefa makes it a two-game ban. “I hope it’s one,’’ said Capello. “I think it will be.’’ England hope the referee, Wolfgang Stark, will help Rooney by telling Uefa that the striker accepted his red card with the minimum of dissent.

Although it would still be a major surprise if Rooney were not immediately recalled, Capello has placed the errant attacker on notice. “In my life as a manager I have put on the bench a lot of [good] players,’’ said Capello. “I always decided who was for me the best player at that moment.”

Capello’s comments will also register positively with those auditioning for the role of the new No 10 as Rooney is unlikely to start any of the five or six friendlies before the Euros. “Sometimes he will come on at half-time,’’ continued Capello. “Not from the start. We need to prepare the first XI who will start in the Euros.

“Rooney will not play against Spain. I want to test new players, a new style and different movement. I have got a lot of forwards, really good forwards. I need to find the best solution.

"It will be really interesting because two players I did not select are playing really well. I saw Jermain Defoe play against Arsenal and he played really well, ran a lot, pressed a lot. Daniel Sturridge is the same.’’

He will also look again at the other strikers who were with Darren Bent and Rooney in the squad for Podgorica. “Welbeck played 15 minutes against Montenegro and played really well. He will be tested when we play against Spain.

“I wanted to see Bobby Zamora and Andy Carroll. These are players who have stayed with us at times. Zamora is an interesting player and we need to see him play against some important teams.

"I need to find the solution for the first game or two games that Rooney will not play. And then if we find a solution he needs to work to return to the first XI. That is true, absolutely. I’ve got 23 players.”

As to whether Rooney might not play at all for England until the Euro finals, Capello laughed: “He will be fresh.”

There is a desire within the FA to shield the popular Rooney from the criticism levelled at him, encouraging such an important player to reflect on his mistake and resume the mature development that had been seen in the past year with United.

Yet the short-circuiting of Rooney’s hardware in Podgorica’s City Stadium indicated a problem with the mental side of the game. Asked whether English players possess the mettle to win a tournament, Capello replied: “I hope so.”

After four seasons, he had hoped for greater conviction and concentration. “When we are focused we are really good. Sometimes we have lost confidence when the other teams start faster. We lose some balls that we would never lose usually.’’

Capello accentuates some positives. “We are first in the table. Phil Jones played a fantastic game and he will be really important for us.’’

Capello wants to look at Jones alongside John Terry against Spain, at Wembley on Nov 12, and had words of praise for the Chelsea man. “Terry is a good captain on the pitch and in the dressing room. He is a leader.

“We’ve got something really good and we can improve. Don’t forget some important players are injured now or not on top form. Jack Wilshere is important. Steven Gerrard is another really important player. Now we have Gary Cahill and Jones. Kyle Walker is a good player. Micah Richards too. Rio Ferdinand needs to play games.”