Gerrard denies Rooney decline

England captain Steven Gerrard has hit out at Paul Scholes for suggesting that Wayne Rooney may be past his best.

Scholes claimed his former Manchester United and England team–mate had been in decline for the last two years.

“Wayne’s peak may have been a lot younger than we’d expect of footballers traditionally,” Scholes wrote. “Age 28 or 29 has been the normal peak. With Wayne, it could have been when he scored 27 league goals in 2011–2012 when he was 26.”

Scholes’ comments have not gone down well with the England captain, who launched a staunch defence of the striker on the eve of the Three Lions’ friendly against Peru tonight.

“Paul Scholes is wrong,” Gerrard said. “I think he’s been Manchester United’s best player at home and in Europe. He’s been in terrific form. I can only judge from my opinion but from what I’ve seen from his performances in the United team, his form has been really positive.”

Rooney failed to score in the eight appearances he made in the last two World Cup finals in South Africa and Germany, though he carried injuries into both tournaments.

Roy Hodgson was equally dismissive of Scholes’s comments. The England manager gave his full backing to the United striker: “I believe in Wayne Rooney,” Hodgson said. “He’s still a young man and of course I don’t think he’s past his best. I’ve selected him in a 23–man squad I’m very proud of.”