Wayne will handle 'Rooney mania' - Eriksson

Sven-Goran Eriksson insisted that Wayne Rooney will handle the extra pressure and expectations on his shoulders following the outbreak of ‘Rooney fever’ at the Euro 2004 finals.

And he tipped the young striker to make an even bigger impact at the 2006 World Cup as he pledged to keep the nucleus of the current squad together.

Rooney was on crutches when he arrived back in England yesterday after fracturing a metatarsal bone in his right foot against Portugal.

He visited a specialist in Manchester this morning and the consultant agreed with the original assessment that he would be sidelined for around eight weeks.

That would rule him out of the start of the Premiership season, while also potentially boosting Everton’s hopes of keeping hold of him before the transfer window shuts at the end of August.

Head physio Mick Rathbone told the club’s official website, www.evertonfc.tv: “Wayne should be able to start his rehabilitation to include cycling and swimming within three to four weeks.”

Eriksson, meanwhile, has now added Rooney to the small band of virtually guaranteed fixtures in his side, the ’crown jewels’ as he once called them.

After all, Rooney delivered far more than the star quartet of Steven Gerrard, Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Michael Owen at the Euro 2004 finals with his four goals.

That will ensure he is now marked even more tightly, that the spotlight is inevitably trained on his personal life and that expectations even of an 18-year-old are heightened.

Eriksson is nevertheless confident that Rooney can cope with that level of pressure after leaving the protective cocoon of the England squad.

“From what I have seen of him here, then yes, I believe he can handle it. He is quiet, smiling, he is happy and is not trying to be a big star,” he declared.

“Of course, the future for him at home will be Rooney fever. It’s very important that his agents, family and friends give him the right support.”

Eriksson’s right-hand man, Tord Grip, added: “There will be more pressure on him, of course, but I think he can stand that.

“He enjoys his football and you can do that when you’re young. He plays with no fear at all.”

Above all, Eriksson believes that Rooney can improve as a player, given that he is at such an early stage in his overall development.

Asked if the teenager could star at the 2006 World Cup, the England coach insisted: “Yes, and in 2008 and so on.

“He is only 18 and normally, if you are good at 18, then at 20, 22, or 24, you are even better.

“In England, we knew about Wayne Rooney before the tournament. During the tournament, he confirmed that and did even better than anyone could have expected.

“Now he is a big name not only in England but in Europe and in the world. He’s a big name for today and for the future.”

Rooney may be the youngest member of the England squad, but Eriksson has no outfield players aged over 30.

While some will inevitably fall by the wayside, with Jermain Defoe, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Chris Kirkland tipped for imminent call-ups, there is no need for revolution, just continued evolution in the squad.

“I think all the players thought we could win this tournament. I thought it and I told that to them and you,” added Eriksson.

“We all felt enormous disappointment but we talked about the future and what we’d done in the past three years.

“If you asked them tomorrow, they would say they could win in Germany in 2006. They can get better and it’s not just about football work.

“It’s about how we live together. We know each other well now what to do and what not to do, and there is enormous respect. It’s a very good group of players.”