Rooney pleads for fans to give Terry support

The Chelsea defender had the armband taken off him last month following the revelations about his affair with Vanessa Perroncel, Wayne Bridge's former girlfriend and the mother of the full-back's child.

With Manchester City's Bridge having since withdrawn from international football to leave the Three Lions short of cover at left-back ahead of the World Cup, Terry is expected to be jeered during tomorrow's friendly against Egypt at Wembley.

Rooney, mindful of the abuse handed out to Frank Lampard and Gary Neville in recent years, is pleading with the England boo boys not to target his team-mate and instead get behind the entire line-up.

The Manchester United striker said: "I have played in England teams when some of our own players have been booed. It has not been nice, not just for that one player, but for the whole team.

"Leading up to a World Cup you want the fans behind you. We need their full support. It is really important. I hope he gets a good reception (tomorrow)."

Rooney, who was England's Player of the Year in 2009, added: "John Terry is a leader for our team. Although he hasn't got the armband, he is still a great player and a great leader. It has been no different since we have met up."

Although keen to publicly show his support for Terry, Rooney was yesterday also at pains to stress his sympathy for Bridge over the scandal that has left the full-back unable to commit to England.

He added: "We are weakened by not having him. He is a fantastic player, especially with Ashley Cole being injured. He would have been the one to replace him.

"It is unfortunate but it is Wayne's decision and we have to respect it."

Rooney may play a part against the Egyptians after being given the all-clear following a scan on the knee injury he aggravated during Sunday's Carling Cup final victory over Aston Villa.

There had been fears in the immediate aftermath of the 2-1 triumph for the Red Devils that their star striker would not join up with his international team-mates and instead return to Old Trafford for treatment, only for the striker to allay such fears yesterday.

He said: "There is nothing you can do about it if you get injured but, hopefully, I will be okay."

Another of Sunday's final combatants likely to start against the reigning African Cup of Nations champions is James Milner, though just where the Villa midfielder will play is a question only Capello can answer.

The Italian has surprisingly named Milner, who opened the scoring in the Carling Cup final at Wembley with an early penalty, as one of two

right-backs in the squad along with Wes Brown for the final friendly before England's provisional 30-man squad for the World Cup is named.

The Leeds-born 24-year-old is hoping his versatility could earn him a major role come this summer's finals in South Africa.

Milner, who has also been touted as a possible stand-in at left-back should Ashley Cole fail to recover from his broken ankle in time to face the USA on June 12, said: "When I have played at right-back for Villa, it has usually been when we are behind and chasing the game so it was more like a wing-back.

"My best position is definitely more attacking central midfield, which I am enjoying immensely at the moment, or right-wing and left-wing.

"That is more suited to my game but, if the manager asks me to play right-back, I will do it to the best of my ability. I would never turn it down. You just want to get out there and play. If he asks me to play there, I'd do it as well as I can. I will give it my all.

"Maybe the versatility can count in your favour when it comes to the World Cup. Tournament football is different in the sense you are away for a few weeks, you can't call-up players from outside of the squad – and you will get injuries and suspensions.

"If being versatile does help me, that is great. Obviously it is down to the England manager to decide that.

"I will keep doing as well as I can and keep putting forward as good a case as I can to be involved in the summer."