Rooney backs young guns for England duty

WAYNE ROONEY has backed Manchester United’s youngsters to force their way into Fabio Capello’s Euro 2012 England plans.

Rooney has turned into an old head at Old Trafford this season as Alex Ferguson has transformed the make-up of his team.

Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Tom Cleverley all accompanied Rooney to England’s training base in Watford ahead of Friday’s qualifier with Bulgaria in Sofia, and striker Danny Welbeck would almost certainly have joined them had it not been for the hamstring injury he sustained against Arsenal at the weekend.

The question now is whether they can maintain their current impressive form across an entire season.

“They could be key players at Euro 2012,” said Rooney. They have done well for the Under-21s in the tournament just gone. The manager (Capello) has recognised that and brought them into the squad. We didn’t do much in training yesterday but you could tell they were comfortable around the other players.”

All four United players, including Welbeck, were part of Stuart Pearce’s squad at this summer’s Under-21 Championships.

Jones and Smalling were two of only a handful to emerge with any great credit from a largely disappointing campaign.

Yet Smalling did so at centre-half. Now he is scrapping it out with Micah Richards for the right-back role on Friday, after impressing Capello with his performances for United out wide.

“He has done brilliant for us at right-back this season,” echoed Rooney. Phil Jones can play at right-back too, so the two of them can play in different positions.

“During a tournament it is so vital for the manager to have that.”

Yet it is not just the youngsters who have impressed at United this season.

Ashley Young has taken no time to become accustomed to his new surroundings following an £18 million summer move from Aston Villa.

Young scored twice in Sunday’s annihilation of the Gunners and also claimed a couple of assists.

It should ensure a starting place in Sofia – unlike against Switzerland in June, when Capello left Young out of his XI and then required the winger to get him out of trouble after England had fallen two goals behind at Wembley.

“He is at home in the international set-up and has done well in his last few games for England,” observed Rooney. “A lot of people don’t realise how hard he works but he is a great player to have in the team.”