Red-hot Rooney extra special, say coaches

This has not gone unnoticed by the men whose teams will attempt to stop the England forward performing on the World Cup finals stage this summer.

At a pre-tournament Fifa workshop at Sun City this week, the great and the good of the world's coaching fraternity identified Rooney as England's great hope.

The United striker has unfinished business at the World Cup, having been sent off in the quarterfinals against Portugal in Germany four years ago, and there is an expectation among England's rivals that Rooney, 24, can illuminate this summer's tournament.

Although some suggested Cristiano Ronaldo was still the world's best player, others - including the coaches of Algeria and Slovenia, who are in England's group - were effusive about the impact Rooney will make.

Carlos Alberto Parreira, South Africa's coach, said: "I saw the (Champions League) game against AC Milan and what he did was amazing - not only his goals but he is in the best form of his life. He has experience. He is very strong and mature. He is doing so well. He made the difference against Milan.

"With players like Rooney, I really believe England can win the World Cup this year. England has a better chance to be in the final than in any other competition since they won it."

Joachim Loew, Germany's coach, said: "Wayne who? No, I know him, all right. He is one of the very best strikers in the world. Cristiano Ronaldo is among the best also, but what matters about Rooney is that this season he is in unbelievable form - and that is with the national team as well as with Manchester United.

"Whether it is in the Premier League, the Champions League or for his country, nobody can stop him at the moment. My feeling when I see him is that he is unstoppable. He has everything a striker needs."

Matjaz Kek, Slovenia's coach, said: "He can now think of himself as being at the same level as (Lionel) Messi and Ronaldo in the top three in the world. He does everything on the pitch so well, so cleverly, and when he plays for England, he brings in everything he has learned at Manchester United.

"In this form, Rooney is one of the best players in the world. He makes so many good things for his team and you can see every month he is still growing as a player. He is more dangerous now than he has ever been before. He is somebody who makes his team win.

"That is the best thing you can say about any player - that he is an individual who makes his team into winners."

Rabah Saadane, coach of Algeria, commented: "When I look at Rooney now, I see a player who is growing day after day, getting better all the time. Now he is at the summit.

"It is not just the goals he is scoring and the talent he has, but he is also at the top of his maturity as a player - and that is what defines a great player. For me, he is one of the top two in the world. And if he is not the best yet, then he can become that man and very soon."

Pim Verbeek, Australia's coach, said: "If you look at the goals Rooney is scoring and the great touch he has, he is unbelievable. He can make the difference. If you want to win the biggest games at the World Cup, you need players in your team who are extra-special, because they make the difference - and Rooney is extra-special.

"If you look at Italy, Spain, Germany, Holland, England, France and Brazil, there is very little between them. But Rooney can make that difference."

It is not the European Golden Shoe, but the title of top scorer for Liverpool Schools FA Under-11s is more distinguished than it appears.

Winners include Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler and former England under-21 striker Michael Branch.

Topping it, with the record tally for a single season is Rooney, who scored 72 of the team's 158 goals in 1996-97 - according to LSFA ledgers.

Rooney's mother, Jeanette, thinks her lad banged in more than 80. To dominate a children's side is one thing; quite another to be the big boy in the playground when you turn up for training at one of the world's most illustrious clubs. Or when the squad of one of football's leading nations convene.

David Weir, one of the elders of the Everton side the teen Rooney exploded into, felt he was ready to dominate from the start. "I remember when Wayne first came to join first-team training and the overriding impression was of his confidence. Normally, young boys who do that are a bit nervous but I never got that impression with Wayne. Even at 15 or 16 he had that aura, he knew he belonged. He was never disrespectful in any shape or form, he just knew he was a good player."

On Tuesday, in a Premier League game against West Ham, Rooney scored two of his side's three goals.

At 24, with 404 appearances and 165 goals (for club and country), how extraordinary might his statistics become?