Rooney's been unbelievable: Gerrard

Steven Gerrard believes Wayne Rooney can be the player who defines Africa's first World Cup.

All the reports emanating from England's base camp indicate that the Manchester United striker is chomping at the bit in the final countdown to his side's opener against the United States tonight.

"Unbelievable" was the adjective Gerrard opted for. Fabio Capello, the England coach, has been equally free with the superlatives in assessing Rooney's form and fitness ahead of a tournament which offers the 24-year-old the perfect opportunity to banish painful memories from the last World Cup. "We have been working very hard and each day we are getting sharper and better and dealing with this altitude more and more and I can see that in Rooney myself," Gerrard reported. "The last couple of days he has been unbelievable in training."

The England captain added: "The stage is set for Wayne. He is a fantastic age, he is in great shape and he is coming off the back of an unbelievable season, probably his best. He is in the category of those players like Ronaldo and Messi.

"I'm just delighted he is English and he is going to be leading us out there."