FABIO CAPELLO has hailed Wayne Rooney as one of the three best players in the world.
The England coach rates the Manchester United striker alongside
Cristiano
Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Capello said: "Rooney, Messi together with Cristiano Ronaldo are the
young
players anyone would want in their team.
"Wayne is extraordinary, he has talent and a desire to learn. Ferguson
has
taught him such a lot, I've only had to refine him."
Capello says he has done that by telling the 28-goal striker to
concentrate on
playing in the penalty area more.
He added: "Ronaldo's departure from Manchester has made Rooney more
responsible and he is much more involved now."
But Rooney's sensational form has still not ended the repeated calls for
his
United team-mate Michael Owen to be recalled.
And that clearly irritates Capello, who said: "There is one they want me
to
select, Owen, given that he is the best England goalscorer of all times.
"But I cannot select him if he does not play."
The Owen debate is not Capello's only problem as he prepares for the
World Cup
finals. He also believes the size of the foreign legion in English
football
is a real handicap.
He said: "In the Premier League there are only 38 percent English
players but
67 percent in Italy and 63 percent in Spain."