Football News

McLaren confident in Rooney

McLaren confident in Rooney


McLaren confident in Rooney

Steve McLaren has backed Wayne Rooney to shortly end his England goal drought and will link up well with Michael Owen. Rooney and Owen will lead the line for England in the Euro 2008 qualifier against Estonia at Wembley for the first time since 2006.

"Wayne's lack of goals does not worry me," said McClaren. "He has not really played regularly enough to have an opportunity.

"He is still very inexperienced and he is still very young. He has the potential to be a world-class player and knows what he has to do to realise it.

"That is why Wayne's comments were very honest and should be applauded.

"It is refreshing for a player to say he is disappointed with his own performance. There should be more of that."

McLaren feels the weight of expectation the nation places on Rooney's shoulders does not overwhelm him.

He said: "I think his performances and the way he exploded on to the scene warranted all the attention and plaudits.

"I really do believe he has carried that on. The move to Manchester United was good for him. He's learning and developing there and he has a lot of years ahead of him to become even better.

"All I want him to do is keep performing the way he has been at United and continue to be the threat we all know Wayne Rooney can be.

"The key thing is I am excited at having Michael and Wayne in the same team and I believe we will see that they can score goals together."