Hodgson didn’t hesitate to make it clear that Rooney would be in the squad for Englands campaign at the Euros. This season Rooney has made 41 appearances and scored 33 goals in the worlds toughest league, the English Premiership, and the European club championships. He hits the ball hard and true, has genuine vision to execute killer passes and is always a threat in the air.

Now Rooney has over 400 top class professional games under his belt and at his club has begun to provide leadership and inspiration. The young man who walked haplessly into the trap laid by the Portuguese in Germany 2006, who was conspicuously lying low in South Africa in the 2010 World Cup, has had one more leson to learn. If UEFA can do anything to influence adversely Englands chances they will.

So England will have to play their first two games of the tournament, against France and Sweden without the most potent striker in Europe . A good test then for the squad and also a good test for the developing Wayne who has played all season with only 2 yellow cards.

Manchester United woud have been a lot worse off without his consistant level of performance or his goals. If Rooney is fit,and if England get themselves in a position to escape from the group, it maybe the case that England can produce a star who can power us through a tournament. Ramseys England had Charlton and Moore, in 1990 and 1996 Gascoigne stood above the world in the white shirt of England and maybe the Euros of 2012 will let Wayne play a big role on the main stage.

Of course he should be there, he’s one of ours and he is one of the very best.

Come On England