England v Macedonia
UEFA European Championship Qualifying Group E
5pm, Sat 7 October 2006
Old Trafford, Manchester
Steve McClaren's England Record - Click here

05 October 2006
VIDEO: Rio Ferdinand press conference
Rio Ferdinand talks about Wayne Rooney's return and the important of keeping clean sheets.
04 October 2006
VIDEO: England training pre-Macedonia
Steve McClaren puts the Three Lions through their paces as they prepare to take on Macedonia and Croatia.
Rio Ferdinand is backing Wayne Rooney to hit top form for England when he returns to action for the Three Lions on Saturday.

Rooney has missed the last three matches under Steve McClaren because of injury and suspension but is back in contention to start against Macedonia at Old Trafford this weekend.

It’s an exciting prospect for the Three Lions and Rooney’s Manchester United team-mate Ferdinand believes he will answer critics who say he is not at his best this season.

Rooney hasn’t scored for his club since the opening day of the campaign but there is no doubting his quality or his value to England.

Ferdinand said: "He’s a good lad to have around the hotel not just on the pitch. He's been playing for United for the last few games and it would be great to see him in an England shirt again because he's always a threat.

"He’s had an interrupted season but people make more of a meal of it because it’s Wayne Rooney. But he brings a lot more to the team than just goals.

"He can set up scoring opportunities and his work-rate is up there with the best of them. If he’s not scoring goals there are still not many defenders who like playing against him. For people to cast so much doubt on Wayne is far-fetched in my eyes."

Rooney has endued a difficult year with injuries, including that broken foot which almost kept him out of the World Cup. But Ferdinand believes he is slowly getting back to his best.

He added: "Wazza is definitely improving fitness-wise and getting stronger in the latter parts of games.

"Benfica was a good game for him because he played out of position with defensive responsibilities and he did what was asked of him, running back. And in the following games he showed a bit more sharpness.

"Against Newcastle he had a couple of ifs-and-buts chances he might have scored but he was getting the opportunities. It's been a steady improvement.

"All this has been over-emphasised because it’s Wayne and people have said he's playing poorly and what-not.

"He’s set himself the highest standards that can be set for a young lad and he has to attain them every time he goes out on a football pitch.

"But there’s been a situation surrounding him with bans and injuries which mean he hasn’t been able to play a certain amount of games. In time you will see the standard he’s set himself but I don’t even think he's been playing poorly, like has been reported.

"As I say, the goals will come but Wayne offers other things. He puts players through on goal and attracts players to him because of his quality and gives other people spaces. He might not be scoring sometimes but he’s doing a lot of other things."

There is every possibility on Saturday that Rooney could form a new partnership with Peter Crouch at Old Trafford, and that is a mouth-watering prospect.

Crouch has hit six goals in his last three matches for England and it’s a combination that could prove to be explosive.

Rio said: "On paper it could be fantastic. Wayne could come off him and drop in. Crouchy could stay up there at the top of the pitch. If we get the ball in the box there's not many better finishers around at the moment than Crouchy. Especially in an England shirt."

Stay with TheFA.com for more build-up to this weekend.