ROONEY STILL IN FAVOUR

Last updated : 04 October 2006 By Editor

"He will be an asset for us. He just needs games at the moment - everybody can see that. But Wayne Rooney, believe me, will be in the team as long as he's fit.

"Players have to be playing well and have to be in form but Wayne is a world-class player and can make the difference at any given moment. He's in my team.

"We need to get Wayne into positions where he can score more goals and create more and get better service into the final third," he said. "You have to give him the freedom to go and play, to go and express himself. You do that with all the players within the structure of the team.

"I think he's most effective where he is at the moment, behind the striker, linking the play."