Rooney role pays dividends
Reuters - Saturday 04 September 2010, 11:23
LONDON - It is not often a striker scores
a hat-trick but finds his goalless partner taking most of the
plaudits but that was the case after Jermain Defoe's Wayne
Rooney-inspired hat-trick in England's 4-0 win over Bulgaria on
Friday.
Adam Johnson weighed in with the other goal as Rooney's
year-long international goal drought continued but it was a
night of celebration for the Manchester United forward who had a
hand in all four goals, starting with a deft lofted pass in the
build-up to Defoe's third-minute opener.
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Rooney looked sharp and full of running in the Group G Euro
2010 qualifying win - a total contrast to the dejected,
weary-looking figure he cut during the World Cup.
Manager Fabio Capello said a new, deeper role had been key
to his new productive streak.
"I played Rooney in a position different than usual. He did
very well. I spoke with him before the game," Capello said.
"He had to stay just in front of the two central midfielders
and from this position to go forward and to be free. The quality
of Rooney was really high."
Defoe was also full of praise for his provider-in-chief.
"It's always nice when you play with a partner and they want you
to score the third goal," Defoe said.
"When I was on the second, he said to me, 'keep going and
you'll get the hat-trick' and when I did, he was the first one
to come over."
Of the strike partnership Defoe said: "I've always said
sometimes it takes time to get things working.
"In training, we played together all week and it's been very
good and in the game he was involved in all my goals - so it was
brilliant."
Defoe suffered a bruised foot in the act of scoring his
third but though he was immediately substituted he is expected
to be fit for Tuesday's awkward-looking trip to Switzerland.
The news looks grimmer for centre back Michael Dawson, who
suffered knee ligament damage and who will probably find out
later on Saturday the full extent of the problem that seems
certain to rule him out for several weeks at least.
With regular centre-backs Rio Ferdinand and John Terry also
injured England will field Phil Jagielka, who looked quick and
efficient on Friday, alongside either Gary Cahill, who made his
debut as Dawson's replacement, or Matthew Upson, one of the
players most heavily criticised for his World Cup performances
and left out of Friday's match squad.
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