Wayne Rooney is one of the most gifted English players of his generation, playing most of his senior career for Manchester United and scoring goals considered by polls as the best in the Premier League era.
The 28-year-old has made 89 appearances for England since 2003 and is the 5th highest goalscorer of all time for England with 38 goals.
Following an injury prior to the 2006 World Cup Rooney faced a tough task for the injury to heal and to return to fitness which in the end proved too difficult despite the use of an oxygen tent. Rooney was not match fit and failed to score with England going out in the quarter-finals on penalty kicks after Rooney received a red card.
In the 2010 World Cup qualifiers Rooney scored 9 goals, just one behind the European section highest. England however had a lacklustre tournament, going out in the second round and were booed off the pitch after managing just a draw against Algeria. Again Rooney left the competition goalless and frustrated.
Rooney is just two goals behind Michael Owen in fourth and six behind Jimmy Greaves in third on the all-time list of England goalscorers. Gary Lineker and Bobby Charlton head the list on 48 and 49 respectively.
Making his third and probably final World Cup appearance a good one could well see him cement his position as one of the all-time England greats with many suggesting this is his last chance to make an impact on the world stage.
Source: DSG
