ROONEY RETURNS

Last updated : 16 June 2006 By Ed

Unless you have been hiding under a stone you'll be aware that Wayne Rooney returned for England yesterday playing for 30 minutes. Here's what Sven Goran Eriksson had to say about him:

"I told him to go onto the pitch and enjoy himself and not to make any stupid tackles.

"He was good when he came on and those 30 minutes will be very important for rest of the World Cup campaign."

"I'm relieved the saga of Rooney is over. We have talked about it every day. . We are fed up with it. It's over and that's very good," said the Swede.

"We all know Rooney is not 100 per cent. But if he had had that 30 minutes in the next match or the one after he would have been further behind.

"Now he's in it and can only be better and better.

"He did very well when he came on. He can't come out and be the best man on the pitch when he has not played for a long time. You have to play football to get match fit.

"The tackles are different, the tempo is higher. But all the squad are glad to see him on the pitch instead of talking about him.

"It was important the independent doctors said he was match fit. Now it's up to me to use him as I want to. There are no limits, it's up to me."