Taylor bids to takes heat off Rooney

PLAYERS’ chief Gordon Taylor firmly believes Wayne Rooney has the world at his feet - but has warned against placing too much expectation on the young England striker.

The 20-year-old Manchester United forward was yesterday nominated for both Professional Footballers’ Association player and young player of the year awards.

Yet with his off-field activities and temperament sometimes grabbing as many headlines as his goals for United - the latest of which came in the 2-0 win over Arsenal last weekend - the spotlight is certainly on the Merseyside-born youngster.

PFA chief executive Taylor said: “He has got such superlative skills and you just hope it can all be held together. If he can stay clear of injury and he continues to develop the way he has, there is no end to what Wayne can achieve.

“We must all remember, though, he is still a young man and we should not have too high expectations of him because he has got a long way to go - but he will get there if he is looked after properly.

“His development (under United manager Sir Alex Ferguson) has been great to see and he has been such a key part of a United side which has won the Carling Cup and, of late, has mounted a belated challenge to Chelsea in the race for the Premiership title.

“For a young man he has got such strength and it is all allied to great skill and perception. He is starting to show a lot more maturity too, which I am really pleased about. When you think he might be wound up by opponents, he has learned to count to 10 and control that side of his temperament while maintaining his total commitment - all of which bodes really well for Manchester United, and particularly for England.”

The PFA’s 33rd annual awards dinner, to be held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, will take place on April 23, with the six nominees in each of the two categories now confirmed.

Chelsea trio John Terry, who was last year’s winner, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole all make the shortlist for the main accolade. Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard and Arsenal captain Thierry Henry - winner in 2003 and 2004 - are also nominated, along with Rooney, for the award as voted by their fellow professionals.

With polling now closed, the PFA will announce which of the leading contenders has won the accolade at a gala dinner a week on Sunday. French World Cup-winner Henry has been the driving force behind the Gunners’ march to the semi-finals of the Champions League, and Taylor said: “Not only is he a quality footballer, he is a quality person.

“We have seen that in the way he has led the Arsenal youngsters into Europe when things have not gone so well domestically. Having been our player of the year for two out of the last three years, I think he is unfortunate not to have been World Player of the Year because he is up there with the very best.”

Taylor is not surprised to see Terry, 25, again among the contenders. “He has been the cornerstone, not just of the Chelsea defence, but the whole foundations on which their success over the last couple of years has been built,” he said.

“John is the one person you would want alongside you in the trenches because he is strong, dependable, reliable and fearless. If things are not going well, then he will come up front and get a goal for you at a corner or free-kick - and from that point of view he was a worthy winner of Players’ Player of the Year award last year and, having had another good season, he is certainly making a strong defence of that title.”

Taylor added: “A rock at the back for Chelsea, he will be the same for England at the World Cup, I am sure.”

In the Young Player of the Year category, Rooney’s Old Trafford team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, 21, also makes the shortlist, along with Darren Bent of Charlton.

The England striker, 22, has bagged more than 20 goals for the Addicks this season, and is hopeful of making the World Cup squad.

Taylor commented: “I have been particularly impressed with his attitude, his movement off the ball and, most of all, the way he has made the most of what have not always been the greatest of chances. Darren has been very impressive throughout the season, is sharp and alert and is certainly one for the future.”

West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand, 21, Cesc Fabregas of Arsenal, 18, and Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon, who turns 19 later this week, are also nominated.