Wayne Rooney may no longer be the main man at Manchester United and there are persistent rumours he may leave Old Trafford in a bid to find regular football.
However, England manager Roy Hodgson still strongly believes in the striker.
Rooney, despite winning the title for his club side in England, has endured a difficult season.
He was left out of big matches by his manager Sir Alex Ferguson – including a Champions League tie against Real Madrid – and often overshadowed by new signing Robin van Persie.
Rooney was also omitted from the last two matches of the campaign after Ferguson revealed the 27-year-old, frustrated at being left on the bench, had verbally asked for a transfer.
Statistics show Rooney hasn’t scored a goal for United since hitting a winner against Reading on March 16 and has managed only five in the league in the whole of 2013 so far.
By contrast, his form for England has been sensational – at least a goal in each of his last five international matches.
So Rooney seems certain to start in friendlies at home to the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday and away to Brazil this weekend after Hodgson highlighted his faith in a player who has long been regarded as England’s talisman.
“I can’t comment on club football and his status within his club but I can talk about him as he is when he joins up with me, and how he behaves in our get-togethers, and I find his desire as strong if not 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 what a good player he is.
“But of course good players can have bad games, and bad players can have good games. It’s not an exact science – and wanting it doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to get it.
“But my faith in Wayne Rooney has been very strong from the very beginning and it has never wavered.”
Far from thinking about how to replace Rooney, Hodgson is more concerned about who should partner him in order to bring the best out of a player who still has the potential to light up World Cups and European Championships but who has suffered so many frustrations at international level over the years.
So far England have opted for Manchester United teammate Danny Welbeck as the perfect foil for Rooney.
With Welbeck injured there are now opportunities for the in-form Daniel Sturridge of Liverpool and Theo Walcott of Arsenal.
“I know where I think it’s best for Wayne to play, and I think there are several candidates to play alongside him,” said Hodgson.
“That might be a position that’s up for grabs.
“Of course he has to produce good form as well – no one is guaranteed a place in the future. But everyone knows his ability and I expect him to continue showing that.”
