Rooney Hard act to follow

Fabio Capello will be without his very own Mr Incredible when England tackle Belarus at Wembley on Wednesday.

Instead of preparing to assist England’s quest to end a largely successful World Cup qualifying campaign on a high note, Rooney will be back at Manchester United receiving treatment on a calf injury that threatens his place in the Red Devils side to face Bolton on Saturday.

Contrite Old Trafford chief Sir Alex Ferguson will cross his fingers. And on Saturday’s evidence it was easy to see why.

For, while Rooney’s club colleague Rio Ferdinand continues to make basic defensive mistakes, the former Everton striker gave a whirlwind performance, at times making up the numbers on his own after Robert Green’s 13th–minute dismissal had left England to battle on with 10.

“Wayne Rooney is incredible,” said Capello. “He can play forward, left, right and he defends.”

He will not be at Wembley this week though, which leaves Capello with a selection dilemma.

On the basis that he is not going to rip up his entire blueprint, the Three Lions chief could either shift Steven Gerrard into the position he enjoys so much at Liverpool now he has been given the all–clear after limping out of the weekend defeat.

Other alternatives are Carlton Cole, who was introduced off the bench to no great effect on Saturday, and Gabriel Agbonlahor, whose presence as an unused substitute still got him nearer the action that Peter Crouch.

Making the opposite journey to Rooney will be Ben Foster, who could no doubt empathise with the criticism being heaped on Rio Ferdinand following his latest high–profile blunder.

Ferdinand has been exposed for club and country far too often this season for a player of such stature.

Again on Saturday night, he was found wanting as he allowed Artem Milevskyi to charge straight through the visitors defence, leaving Green with little alternative other than to make the fateful challenge.

The crass error is added to a list that started during August’s friendly with Holland and continued last month when he was burned off by Craig Bellamy for City’s third equaliser in that pulsating Manchester derby at Old Trafford.

Capello claimed on Friday there are no “key” players in his squad. Maybe not. But there are some pretty significant ones and the England coach is surely more fearful that his post–match statements would suggest.

“No,” said Capello unequivocally when asked whether he was concerned about the defender.

“He made one mistake during the game. It was a long ball that bounced and he didn’t judge the direction well. But after that he played a good game.

“At this moment he is making some mistakes but you cannot question Rio’s value.”