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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ferdinand expects Rooney revival | Ferdinand expects Rooney revival |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Rio Ferdinand expects Wayne Rooney to end his goal drought in the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Macedonia and Croatia - with help from Peter Crouch. | Rio Ferdinand expects Wayne Rooney to end his goal drought in the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Macedonia and Croatia - with help from Peter Crouch. |
| Manchester United striker Rooney, 20, scored his last competitive goal for England against Croatia at Euro 2004. | Manchester United striker Rooney, 20, scored his last competitive goal for England against Croatia at Euro 2004. |
| But defender Ferdinand said: "He will be on the scoring trail again soon. | But defender Ferdinand said: "He will be on the scoring trail again soon. |
| "Crouchy can do no wrong in an England shirt. His goalscoring record is up there with the best of them and add Wayne and it could be fantastic." | "Crouchy can do no wrong in an England shirt. His goalscoring record is up there with the best of them and add Wayne and it could be fantastic." |
| News conference: England's Rio Ferdinand | News conference: England's Rio Ferdinand |
| It is the first time Rooney has been in the England squad since serving a suspension following his sending off in the World Cup quarter-final against Portugal in July. | It is the first time Rooney has been in the England squad since serving a suspension following his sending off in the World Cup quarter-final against Portugal in July. |
| And another ban, this time at domestic level, has been cited as the cause of a recent dip in form. | And another ban, this time at domestic level, has been cited as the cause of a recent dip in form. |
| People are harping on about him having a bad time at the moment but I don't think he will be seeing it as a crisis point Ferdinand on Rooney | People are harping on about him having a bad time at the moment but I don't think he will be seeing it as a crisis point Ferdinand on Rooney |
| He scored twice on the opening day of the season in August before being consigned to the sidelines for three matches and since his return he has struggled to recapture the verve he showed in that 5-1 victory against Fulham. | He scored twice on the opening day of the season in August before being consigned to the sidelines for three matches and since his return he has struggled to recapture the verve he showed in that 5-1 victory against Fulham. |
| But Ferdinand believes too much has been made of his United team-mate's supposed lack of form. | But Ferdinand believes too much has been made of his United team-mate's supposed lack of form. |
| "He has set himself some fantastically high standards and if he is not attaining them at any point people seem to think it's an absolute travesty," added centre-back Ferdinand. | "He has set himself some fantastically high standards and if he is not attaining them at any point people seem to think it's an absolute travesty," added centre-back Ferdinand. |
| "But he hasn't been playing poorly by anyone's standards. He has been doing okay and is finding his feet fitness-wise and is improving every day. | "But he hasn't been playing poorly by anyone's standards. He has been doing okay and is finding his feet fitness-wise and is improving every day. |
| "Against Benfica in the Champions League he was asked to do a job out wide, which he did brilliantly. | "Against Benfica in the Champions League he was asked to do a job out wide, which he did brilliantly. |
| "And I think it was a good game for him in terms of fitness levels. He was doing a lot of defending and working his socks off, which he does without an argument anyway. | "And I think it was a good game for him in terms of fitness levels. He was doing a lot of defending and working his socks off, which he does without an argument anyway. |
| "Hopefully, in the next game we'll see some goals and a great performance from him in an England shirt. | "Hopefully, in the next game we'll see some goals and a great performance from him in an England shirt. |
| "People are harping on about him having a bad time at the moment but I don't think he'll be seeing it as a crisis point." | "People are harping on about him having a bad time at the moment but I don't think he'll be seeing it as a crisis point." |
| Following the successful start to the Steve McClaren era, during which time England won their opening two qualifying games for the first time in a decade, Ferdinand added that it was a boost to see Rooney involved again. | Following the successful start to the Steve McClaren era, during which time England won their opening two qualifying games for the first time in a decade, Ferdinand added that it was a boost to see Rooney involved again. |
| 606 VIEW If Rooney fails against Macedonia, there will be serious doubts about whether he can fulfil his potential RB 606: Have your say | |
| "It's good to have him back," confirmed Ferdinand. | "It's good to have him back," confirmed Ferdinand. |
| "He adds a lot to the squad, not just on the pitch - where his talent speaks for itself - but off it as well. | "He adds a lot to the squad, not just on the pitch - where his talent speaks for itself - but off it as well. |
| "He's always having a laugh and keeps the place bright and bubbly and that's important, especially on 10-day trips like we're on." | "He's always having a laugh and keeps the place bright and bubbly and that's important, especially on 10-day trips like we're on." |
| Meanwhile, McClaren believes Arsenal's teenage forward Theo Walcott could develop into a candidate for the role on the left-hand side of the England attack in future. | Meanwhile, McClaren believes Arsenal's teenage forward Theo Walcott could develop into a candidate for the role on the left-hand side of the England attack in future. |
| "When you look at the modern game, people are not stuck in one position," said McClaren. | "When you look at the modern game, people are not stuck in one position," said McClaren. |
| "The likes of Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho at Barcelona rotate so one is in the middle and one is on the left. They interchange. | "The likes of Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho at Barcelona rotate so one is in the middle and one is on the left. They interchange. |
| "The modern player, coming through over the next few years has to be adaptable and flexible enough to do that." | "The modern player, coming through over the next few years has to be adaptable and flexible enough to do that." |
| After Saturday's match against Macedonia at Old Trafford, England travel to Zagreb to play Croatia on Wednesday. | After Saturday's match against Macedonia at Old Trafford, England travel to Zagreb to play Croatia on Wednesday. |