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'BREAKING: Rooney retires from international football'

Glory days: Gary Lineker is about to be overtaken by Wayne Rooney in the England top-scorer's list © Getty Images

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He was England's king of the six-yard area, but poacher-turned-presenter Gary Lineker is quickly making himself a name as Twitter's sharpest commentator when it comes to the national team.

Lineker is never short of an opinion on the social media site, and has been particularly prolific as Wayne Rooney closes in on the England goal-scoring record.

Rooney's brace in the 3-1 win over Scotland on Tuesday were his 45th and 46th goals in his 101 appearances for England, putting him just two behind Lineker and three behind Sir Bobby Charlton - who has held the record since his 49th and final England goal in 1970.

When Rooney headed England 2-0 ahead at Celtic Park shortly into the second half, Lineker tweeted:

Yes! Get in there, just 4 to go @WayneRooney . It's crap being second anyway.

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) November 18, 2014

And when Rooney doubled his tally, finishing off a neat move just a minute after Scotland had halved the deficit, he added:

Feel Rooney's breath on the back of my neck.

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) November 18, 2014

He then joked:

BREAKING NEWS: Wayne Rooney retires from international football.

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) November 18, 2014

Jester hat put aside, Lineker seemed genuinely excited by the future of England's defence.

"Another very good performance from Nathaniel Clyne," he wrote. "I think England has its right-back."

He added: "Possible England defence in Russia 2018: Clyne, Stones, Chambers, Shaw. Very promising youngsters who defend and treat the ball as a friend."

Think a certain Mr Cahill might have something to say about that, Gary…

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