Soccer: Wenger in praise of Rooney

ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger believes that Everton striker Wayne Rooney can follow Thierry Henry’s route to success as he tipped the teenager to become a “great player.”

Wenger admitted that he could not afford to bid for Rooney if the England international ever came onto the transfer market. For the Arsenal boss believes that Rooney's dip in form earlier this season will merely prove to be a temporary part of his learning curve just as Henry experienced earlier in his career.

After all, while the Arsenal forward played a part in France's 1998 World Cup triumph at the age of just 20, he was back in the U21 side for the next two seasons. Henry, nevertheless, rebuilt his career after his move to Arsenal and was recently the runner-up in the world and European player of the year polls.

Rooney, meanwhile, faces Arsenal tonight at Goodison Park with Wenger fully aware of his potential after dramatic interventions in both Premiership fixtures against the Gunners last season.

At home, Rooney scored the last-minute winner which inflicted Arsenal's first defeat of the season, while he also scored a memorable goal at Highbury to prove to Sven-Goran Eriksson that he was ready for senior international duty.

Wenger declared: "That was the game that brought him really up into prominence. After that, he made a big move. This season, he was a bit less in the spotlight but it looks now that he's coming back to his best and to the level you expect him to be.

"It's always like that. In the first season, it goes well, you play in the national team and people want you to make the difference in every game. Then the expectation levels grow so quickly that it's difficult to respond to that always.

"But he has the belief that he can do it. That's a sign of a great player and I believe he will be a great player, although the mark of someone like Thierry Henry is that he has got better from year to year.

"The same is expected of Rooney, but he has the hunger and the motivation. Then again, Thierry was not in the French national team for two years. He had a little dip because, in fairness, it is not easy to be a world champion at 20."

Wenger therefore praised the cautious way in which Everton boss David Moyes has handled Rooney's development. "He handles him well. You have to be cautious not to burn a young player out too quickly," he said.

It remains to be seen whether Rooney's development will continue to be served best at Everton or if he could benefit from moving to gain Champions League experience with another club. Wenger was not about to enter in that debate ahead of tonight's fixture, stressing that "it is up to Everton and to Rooney."

Dennis Bergkamp and Sylvain Wiltord have been ruled out for the trip as Wenger considers several changes to his line-up.

Bergkamp is ruled out with a calf problem, while Wiltord has injured his ankle in training. Wenger recalled several players including Martin Keown, Lauren, Edu and Kanu for Sunday's FA Cup third-round tie at Leeds, but could now bring back Pascal Cygan and Robert Pires.

Jeremie Aliadiere has recovered from the illness which ruled him out of the 4-1 win at Elland Road.

Everton have doubts over the fitness of three key men. Alan Stubbs (groin), Thomas Gravesen (knee) and Duncan Ferguson (foot) all picked up injuries in Saturday's FA Cup victory over Norwich.

They are still without Richard Wright, Alex Nyarko and Alessandro Pistone with long-term problems, but do have David Weir available again.

Tomasz Radzinski was rested from the Norwich game and will certainly return, while Joseph Yobo, who will leave for the African Nations Cup after Saturday's trip to Fulham, can play in a midfield role if Gravesen does not make it.