Moyes wrapping Rooney in cotton wool for new season

FIVE England caps and no goals. You were maybe left wondering what all the fuss was about.

Wayne Rooney, not 18 until October, survived his first season in the professional ranks and under the glare of the national spotlight. However, his club manager David Moyes appears to have been right to say too much was asked too soon.

Despite all the massive hype and the determination of Sven-Goran Eriksson to utilise his young star's talents at every opportunity, Rooney in the end has still played less than three full games for England, in terms of minutes on the pitch. He probably only had a major influence on one game the Turkey match in April where he stayed on until the 89th minute.

And by the time he was substituted just short of the hour mark last week against Slovakia, he looked like the tired, drained, weary youngster Moyes feared he might. Rooney is now on holiday and the Everton boss will give him an extra week's rest before pre-season, letting him return on July 9 when the whole bandwagon, with England facing three key games in early autumn, starts again.

Moyes is determined to fight Rooney's corner as best he can and he said: "It's been a really long season for him and we now need to look after him and make sure he gets the opportunity to have a proper rest and recharge his batteries.

"We won't be asking him to report back for pre-season training for a full month. That gives him a week longer than the other lads who were not involved with international matches after the end of the season. It's something we'll be doing for all the internationals."

Despite all the words of concern, Rooney has just completed an 11-month season.

His first game last term was on July 15, a friendly against SC Bruck in Austria, and after that he was involved in 37 first-team games, five internationals, three friendlies and three reserve matches.

That's 48 matches either starting or coming on as substitute, a work load that would test seasoned professionals, let alone someone just out of school.

Next season could be even worse, with the pressure to use him more often from the start of Premiership games and with the Euro 2004 finals starting in Portugal on June 12.

Former Evertonian Graeme Sharp appreciates the stance and has his own fears about Rooney's next campaign.

"I agree with David, if England are banking everything on a 17-year-old, they have problems. There surely are other lads around ahead of him, apart from (Michael) Owen, they've got (Jermain) Defoe and (Darius) Vassell as well as Wayne. Wayne will find next season difficult, kids always do in their second term.

"I do not believe he will be a world beater next season. He's had a fine start to his career, but he's not a seasoned, experienced professional with lots of seasons behind him, Wayne has just started.

"It's crazy to start projecting him alongside players who are the best strikers in Europe, if not the world. I feel he still has a long way to go before he's capable of being compared with players of that calibre. He has great talent, but a lot to learn. I can see the same thing happening next term too, David will continue to protect him."