Rooney can re-unite England and spark World Cup ambition

England host Egypt in the penultimate Wembley friendly before the squad fly out to South Africa with the eyes of the world watching.

The scandal involving John Terry that led to Wayne Bridge last week quitting international football together with Ashley Cole's marriage failure means the Three Lions will kick-off their 2010 calendar under something of a cloud.

Throw in broken ankle victim Cole's own race-against-time to be fit for the finals along with the on-going doubts over Aaron Lennon's recovery from a groin problem and it is clear the England team are in need of a lift against a country fresh from having lifted the African Cup of Nations.

Hopefully, Capello can call on a player who is enjoying such an outstanding season that he is now being classed among the modern day greats of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Kaka.

Even at this early stage, Wayne Rooney – who will hopefully shake off the knee injury picked up in yesterday's Carling Cup final in time for Wednesday – seems a shoe-in for the PFA and Football Writers' Player of the Year awards. Barring serious injury, he also seems certain to be on the short-list for FIFA World Player of the Year and the Ballon d'Or honours.

The 24-year-old has been in the form of his life since moving up front for Manchester United in the wake of Ronaldo's departure to Real Madrid.

His display in Milan less than a fortnight ago was typical of the impact Rooney has made this term with the notoriously harsh Italian press falling over themselves to praise him.

The 'English phenomenon' was just one of the tags handed to the United striker after the

3-2 first leg triumph over AC Milan in the Champions League, while Corriere dello Sport agreed Rooney was Capello's great World Cup hope.

It has been a similar story in the Premier League with 23 goals from 27 appearances, 11 of which have come since Christmas. And he was on hand again yesterday to win the Carling Cup.

United may not quite be a one-man team with the likes of Ryan Giggs, Darren Fletcher and Nemanja Vidic at Old Trafford, but they have not been far off it.

Perhaps most impressive of all Rooney's attributes is his ability to drop into deep areas or find space on the flank, while also displaying his predatory instincts. For England, he plays a slightly different role thanks to Capello's liking of a 'big man' up front. Steven Gerrard, someone who starts on the left flank, is then ordered to work in close tandem with his fellow Liverpudlian.

The Italian's thinking has proved such a success that Rooney became the first since Gary Lineker to reach double figures during a World Cup qualifying campaign. Hopefully come Wednesday night at Wembley the tawdry goings-on involving Terry, Bridge and Cole will be largely forgotten.