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Wayne Rooney says England manager Thomas Tuchel has to consider recalling Brighton striker Danny Welbeck to his squad.
Tuchel is set to name his squad for this month's World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania on Friday and Welbeck - who played alongside Rooney for Manchester United and England - is the top English scorer in the Premier League this season with six goals in 10 games.
The 34-year-old last played for England in a friendly win over Switzerland in 2018, but Rooney believes he should be confident of adding to his 42 caps and 16 international goals.
"He scores goals, he works hard, he's having a purple patch and he's put himself in a position where Thomas Tuchel will definitely have to look at him," Rooney said on the latest episode of his podcast The Wayne Rooney Show.
"Behind Harry Kane he is the most in-form England striker. He's given himself a chance."
Rooney was a first-team player at Manchester United when Welbeck came through the youth ranks at Old Trafford, and went on to play alongside him for club and country.
"He's been such a good player in the Premier League," Rooney added. "I said last season Manchester United should have brought him back.
"He seems really settled at Brighton, he's doing well and scoring goals, and I hope he continues that and gives himself the best chance of trying to get back in the England squad."
Welbeck will be 35 by the time the 2026 World Cup kicks off in June and Rooney said he could play an important role for England on and off the pitch.
"I'm not saying he would go and accept being on the bench, but Ollie Watkins and players like that who are trying to get in the squad, they are still young enough and want to be pushing Kane for that starting place.
"A bit like Jordan Henderson, he would use his experience around the players. He's popular with his team-mates wherever he's been, but also he has the ability to come on and have an impact."
Having already qualified for next summer's tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada with two games to spare, Rooney thinks England captain Harry Kane should be left out of Tuchel's next squad to allow the German to experiment with players like Welbeck.
"If you're Tuchel you definitely have to be looking at him and I hope he does," Rooney said. "The next couple of England games, I wouldn't even call Kane up. Give him a rest.
"There are not many opportunities from now until the end of the season when he gets a rest. Let him rest and go and look at Welbeck or Watkins or Ivan Toney. Whoever it is he wants to look at, give these players the opportunity to try and play."
Rooney is six years older than Welbeck but the two became good friends when they played together and Rooney said his highlight was when Welbeck's mum would cook for him every week.
"He was brilliant, such a lovely person. When he played he pressed really high, he was aggressive, he was quick to get to the ball, really clever, good feet and he scored goals," Rooney said when asked what Welbeck was like to play with.
"I do have to say the best thing about Daniel is his mother used to bring me chicken and rice every Thursday," he added. "It was so nice. I used to always look forward to that."
Welbeck has scored six goals in his past five Premier League appearances for Brighton and has now scored in 17 different top-flight campaigns.
"All the ex-players at United are in a WhatsApp group, so we all chat," Rooney said when asked if he keeps in touch with Welbeck.
"He's been on fire. Whenever anyone does well we are all behind them, supporting them.
"I am pleased for him because he had injuries throughout his career that hampered him, but he seems to be able to stay fit now and he has shown his ability and what he can do."
