Rooney, the lone ranger, happy to accept mission of trust
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Your support makes all the difference."And when we played youngest against oldest he played centre-half," Sven Goran Eriksson, the England coach, said yesterday. "He was excellent, absolutely fantastic. So he can play everywhere."
Today he will play on his own. Up front, the lone striker. It is another departure for the player who Eriksson rightly went on to describe as one of the "best strikers in the world today, no doubt about it". And Rooney does not turn 20 until next month.
His talents are undeniable, a force of nature even, and his importance, to Manchester United and England, grows day by day. Indeed, Eriksson said: "He's stronger, he's better and he seems to be, every time I see him, even more confident. And that is good."
Rooney needs to be. Not many teenagers are regarded as not only their country's most vital player but also charged with solely carrying the attacking burden in a World Cup qualifier.
There has been talk in the Welsh camp of trying to unnerve him and, at times this season, he has appeared "on the edge" - even if that edginess is clearly a part of his driving force too. "I hope not to lose him," Eriksson said when asked of the possibility of a dismissal in today's encounter. " I'm not worried about that, absolutely not. I think he is prepared for that. He has to be prepared for that.
"He's getting better and better as a football player and he handles his temper better and better, as we have seen in games already this season when he has been fantastic... He can do everything."
Eriksson is asking a lot today. Rooney has played on his own up front before - he fulfilled the role brilliantly for United in last season's 4-2 victory against Arsenal at Highbury - but no one really believes it is the best use of England's best player.
For United he is usually asked to play from the flanks. But that is only a starting position. He clearly has licence and, crucially, is allowed to attack from deep positions. He has the strength on the ball, the control and the tactical nous to play alone through the middle, but does Eriksson really want to see his most important performer run himself into the ground chasing down defenders?
Importantly, Rooney will also be even more reliant on the service he receives. With United, and previously with England, he can go and provide that service, dropping deep to collect the ball. Wales have also been playing with two central defenders and a sweeper, which could see Rooney crowded out but provide space for others.
The England captain David Beckham said that Rooney will undoubtedly be "targeted. It's like with [Cristiano] Ronaldo at Manchester United," he said. "Sir Alex Ferguson comes out and says it's a good thing. He likes to see people kicking him. Because then they know they are worried about him. We are the same. We will protect Wayne, if he needs protecting. He can look after himself. He's that sort of player."
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