London: England manager Roy Hodgson has backed Wayne Rooney to put his major tournament disappointments behind him by becoming one of the stars of the 2014 World Cup.
Since exploding onto the international scene at Euro 2004, Rooney has endured a succession of failures at the showpiece competitions, with injury, suspension and poor form preventing him from making an impact.
However, the Manchester United striker, 27, plundered seven goals in England’s six final qualifying games to inspire the charge to Brazil, and Hodgson believes he will be ready to make up for lost time next year.
“When Wayne came with us to Euro 2012, he couldn’t play the opening games (through suspension), therefore he wasn’t probably 100 percent match fit and the way he was playing then is so different to the way he’s playing today, where he’s in top, top form and we’re seeing the Real McCoy,” Hodgson said.
“If the question is, ‘Do I believe that Wayne Rooney has got the ability and can do this and can be a star at a World Cup playing for England, playing like he is at the moment?’, I would say, ‘Yeah, of course I believe it and of course I think he can do it.'” (AFP)
