England boss Roy Hodgson is confident Wayne Rooney has a strong enough mentality not to let the turmoil he is experiencing at Manchester United carry over on to international duty.
With the full backing of Manchester United manager David Moyes, Hodgson has included Rooney in his England squad for next Wednesday's friendly with Scotland.
This despite the fact Rooney has not played a competitive game during a pre-season when his Old Trafford future has been thrown into doubt amid an apparent desire to join Chelsea and the Blues' own public interest.
There have been instances in the past of Rooney's notoriously short fuse blowing at times of personal torment.
It is something Hodgson is aware of, although he does feel the player has the discipline to cope.
"Sometimes we forget you cannot divorce the way a person is from the way he plays," said Hodgson.
"We expect them always to play at the level we expect of them, irrespective of their mental or physical state. We can't dismiss that.
"But in the year and a bit I have been working with him, Wayne Rooney's discipline has given me no concern.
"If he does take some part in the game I would expect him to put any personal or professional concerns he might have behind him and give everything for England."
Yet Hodgson must be aware of Rooney's news value.
Source: PA
