Rooney returns to the forefront

Roy Hodgson has no intention of extending the trend of picking Wayne Rooney out of position for England's friendly with the Republic of Ireland.

It was the unease at being continually selected in midfield that led Rooney to seek out Sir Alex Ferguson for a chat that led to the former Manchester United boss to claim his forward had put in a transfer request.

Rooney's status at Old Trafford is now greatly reduced given the wealth of attacking talent at new manager David Moyes' disposal. Hodgson simply does not have the same depth of talent. So there is absolutely no question of his talisman being shunted anywhere. "I know where it's best for him to play and I have it fairly clear in my mind where I want to see him play," he said.

"Everyone knows his ability. I expect him to continue showing that."

As ever, Hodgson is reluctant to get into any debate over a delicate club issue like Rooney's future, knowing Moyes would find such interventions just as unwelcome as Ferguson did. It leaves him only able to offer support, which under the circumstances, has to be plentiful.

"If anything I find his desire stronger than when we first met," said Hodgson. "I have nothing but the greatest faith in him. I know he'll be really desperate to get out and show how desperate he is.

"Good players can have bad games, it's not an exact science. But my faith in Wayne Rooney has never wavered."

With Danny Welbeck set to miss out with a knee injury, Rooney looks likely to have a new strike partner on Wednesday evening in Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge.

Plucked from increasing obscurity at Chelsea, Sturridge has revelled in his Anfield experience, becoming the quickest player in the club's history to reach 10 league goals. And now, after five substitute appearances - remarkably for three different coaches - Sturridge is preparing to be unleashed from the off.

"Daniel Sturridge has been an enormous talent for many years," said Hodgson. "Chelsea paid a lot of money for him from Manchester City before he'd broken into their team but he's been more of a regular at Liverpool. He's grown in confidence and week after week now we are seeing all the qualities we've always known he had."

Source : http://www.football.co.uk/england/rooney_returns_to_the_forefront_rss4228417.shtml