Rooney reluctant to take easy ride

WAYNE Rooney is certain Fabio Capello is the perfect man to guide England towards World Cup glory in South Africa next summer.

Yet, in a funny way, one of the reasons Rooney is so enthused by the Italian is the fact his position in the side is not secure!

"There is always a chance you are not going to be in the starting XI for the next game,” said the Manchester United striker.

"He keeps all the players on their toes. We know we have to play well every game. He is definitely the best man for England."

That Capello is the right man for the job comes partly out of lessons being reinforced at United.

You would have to be brave to challenge Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson and stupid to claim someone who had won 11 Premier League titles did not know what he was talking about.

So, while some might criticise Ferguson for using Rooney in a role where his many attributes are not utilised to their maximum, it is gratifying for the 23–year–old to hear the same words on club and international duty as a method of improvement.

"Sir Alex and Fabio have both tried to get me to play further up the pitch and get in better positions to score more goals," he said.

"I have been shouted at a few times for defending too much. I have tried to cut that out a bit.

"Sometimes when you are not involved in the game, it gets a bit frustrating.

"I know it's the way some players play. They just want to stay up and score goals.

"But I love getting on the ball. I want to score goals and be involved in the game as well."

There has been some positive news from the England camp, with all players training in the countdown to tomorrow’s friendly with Slovenia, including skipper John Terry and Wes Brown, who had sufficient question marks over them to warrant the call–up of Bolton's Gary Cahill.

Nevertheless, no risks will be taken given the importance of next Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Croatia, when victory would confirm England's place in South Africa next summer.

England certainly do not lack incentive given Slaven Bilic's men dumped them out of Euro 2008 before they could get anywhere near Switzerland or Austria.

Since then, though, a new sense of drive has swept through the Three Lions camp, created almost exclusively by Capello since the players are virtually identical to the ones who failed last time around.

Subtle changes have made all the difference. Seven wins out of seven in qualifying has brought a confidence that will survive no matter what the outcome tomorrow.

And if anyone constitutes a "main man" under the Italian, Rooney is it.