McClaren ready for Rooney revival
England coach Steve McClaren insists Wayne Rooney will be back to explosive best as the countdown continues to the Euro 2008 qualifier against Macedonia.
Rooney has been below-par for Manchester United this term, but the 20-year-old will be back in the side for Saturday's Old Trafford clash.
McClaren said: \"I am sure Wayne will explode back to form, and let's hope it is in the game against Macedonia.
\"He is a world-class footballer who, importantly, wants to get better.\"
McClaren added: \"Wayne Rooney will always be under scrutiny in every detail of everything he does. If he mis-controls a ball he will be criticised, but that is just part and parcel of football.
\"He has got great strengths and he is a great asset to the team and to the squad.\"
At a news conference, McClaren also reacted angrily to a report that his players had forced him to scrap plans for a 3-5-2.
\"The players do not pick the team and I can categorically say that the players did not have a meeting,\" said McClaren.
Defender Gary Neville added: \"We have not had any input on how we will play or what we will do against Macedonia.\"
McClaren confirmed he had tried out a 3-5-2 formation in training this week but said he wanted the players to be adaptable during games.
\"I, along with the coaches, pick the team, the tactics, the formations and the gameplan,\" added McClaren.
\"Yes we will ask the players but you can tell if it flows, if it's cohesive when you are in training and it has been.
\"We have to look at different ways of doing things, look at new ideas.
\"That may be defending set-pieces, attacking set-pieces, different ways of playing within a 4-4-2 or different formations.
\"It's no secret that this week we've had two sessions working on a 3-5-2 using different personnel.
\"We may see it this weekend, we may see it on Wednesday, we may see it in the future, who knows?\"
Neville is adamant whatever line-up England use at Old Trafford is down to McClaren and his backroom team as they search for a third successive win in their group.
\"Of course, we are talking to the manager and the coaches regularly about things which occur in training sessions,\" he said.
\"But, regarding people saying we will influence what system we will play, that isn't happening - and hasn't happened. I don't understand where that has come from.\"
