Neville backing Rooney

Gary Neville is backing Wayne Rooney to be England's silent assassin against Wales at Old Trafford.

Rooney's incredible performances for club and country have made him one of the biggest noises in world football. But Manchester United colleague Neville says off the pitch he is as quiet as a mouse!

Rooney may have plenty to be happy about right now, especially after scoring a stunning hat-trick on his debut for United in the Champions League.

But according to Neville even that amazing achievement didn't tempt the youngster to shout his mouth off in the dressing room afterwards.

The defender said: "There has been so much publicity around Wayne but he handles it all by being quiet and just playing football. He's 18 years of age and he just wants to play the game. He has that youthfulness about him where he wants to kick a ball, just like any other kid.

"Even after that hat-trick on his debut he was quiet in the dressing room, in fact he's been quite quiet all round at Old Trafford so far.

"It's a settling in period for him. But I remember the player I saw in Euro 2004, who grew in stature through the competition in terms of getting to know the lads, and I'm sure that will happen at United.

"Don't get me wrong, he has settled in quite well but he's not naturally someone who goes shouting round the dressing room.

"But he's very confident. I would imagine going to any new club when you're 18 would be daunting, especially a big club like United. But it doesn't seem to have caused him any problem whatsoever."

Neville admits to feeling a shiver of excitement when heard Rooney was signing for Manchester United this season, and he was astonished at the instant impact he made on the pitch.

"When you sign a player of that stature in the game it lifts the club, that's the effect Wayne has had on United," said Neville.

"He's a player that has had a massive effect across the country as well because of the fact that he's exciting and everybody wants to watch him play. All the fans that come on Saturday will have that on their minds.

"But I was surprised by the way he played on his debut for United. I didn't expect him to score three goals or to have an impact like that after being out for three months. I had a similar injury and it was difficult for me when I came back, but he didn't seem to find it as difficult, did he?

"He had a fantastic match and his form in that match catapulted him straight away to be available for England, which is great news for us.

"He's a fantastic player but I don't want to say too much more about him because there's so much out there and it amazes me the attention he gets. It was the same a bit when David Beckham was at United, and you don't need your fellow players to be adding to it. But we all know how good he is."

Rooney won't be the only comeback man on the pitch when England face Wales this weekend, either. The return of Rio Ferdinand following suspension has already benefited United and could soon have the same effect for the Three Lions.

The defender has had a difficult year following his suspension for missing a drugs test, but Neville believes his teammate has shown an outstanding attitude to keep fit over the last eight months and to stay focused.

"I really didn't think anybody could show the professionalism he has shown over that eight months," he said.

"When he first got the ban I almost expected not to see him until the end of the season. But he trained with us every day and gave his all every day. If the team was doing functional work he had to be on the 'other' team if you like, he wasn't a first team member.

"He had to do what you would call a dog's job at times. But he did it and he did it with professionalism. I wouldn't expect most players to be able to do that, and it surprised me.

"He did everything right. He trained as if he was going to play on the Saturday and he gained a lot of respect for that.

"If you take a Saturday game away from a football player then in my mind you are taking away their life - and that's what happened to him for eight months. So the professionalism he showed was fantastic."

The benefits of that professionalism have been clear to see, because Rio has settled straight back into United's back four with little or no fuss and managed a full 90 minutes in his very first match.

Not only that but his form has been outstanding, helping to improve his team's defensive unit and looking cool and unflustered.

Neville said: "We know what he brings to United and England. I think Rio has a case for being one of the best central defenders in the world, I genuinely believe that. He has absolutely everything. All the qualities you would look for in a defender - good on the ball, strong, quick, good in the air. He seems to have the lot. And a player of that outstanding stature and ability you are bound to miss

"He's a huge presence and his composure does spread throughout a team.

"Roy Keane used to say that in the first five minutes of a match, all it needed was for a defender to miscue a clearance and the opposing crowd can get up and suddenly you sense the panic.

"But you don't see that with Rio Ferdinand. He will take the ball down and bring it out. That's where composure comes in. On another day a defender might shank one into the crowd, and then they are and taking the mickey out of you, but not Rio. It's great to have him back."

If Ferdinand is picked to play against Wales - and he certainly has plenty of competition from the likes of Ledley King, Sol Campbell and John Terry - his composure could be crucial in a match that is certain to be passionate and fiery.

But Neville is urging his Three Lions teammates not to get carried away with the atmosphere - or to take anything for granted.

He said: "I'm sure that Wales will show a lot of passion but I would be very disappointed if we were not to compete with them and show the same level of passion.

"But in the end I don't think it's about emotion or passion, it's about professionalism and that requires you to do your job.

"If you are too emotional going into the match you won't perform your best, but if you are too relaxed you won't do so either.

"We have quite a lot of experienced players and we have to use that on Saturday. Whatever happens you have to be prepared for it. There are lot of things that happen in these derby matches, they can throw up things that are unusual because of what is at stake.

"But you have to remain focused on your job. It's the team that remains most focused that will win the match, not the one that is most passionate or who wants it the most."