Rio Ferdinand insists Wayne Rooney can handle the responsibility of
being England's "main man" at this summer's World Cup.

Rooney has matured immensely since he burst onto the international
scene at Euro 2004 two years ago and is regarded as the most vital
member of Sven-Goran Eriksson's side. England's hopes of lifting the
World Cup trophy are being pinned on the 20-year-old by many but his
Manchester United colleague Ferdinand insists he can handle the
pressure.

"He (Rooney) is at the beginning of hopefully what will be a great
career," Ferdinand told TalkSPORT. "He's someone who has got
unbelievable talent, he's clinical in what he does; his final pass,
his shooting and his goalscoring and he's a real team player as well."

He added: "He's at the beginning of a career that hopefully will be
able to take not only Manchester United but England on a good course
and I think he's got the ability to do that. It's all a learning
curve.

"The fans and the media are piling their hopes on him and putting a
lot of pressure on him to be the main man but if anyone's going to be
able to shoulder that responsibility then it's Wayne."


The Football Association are yet to recruit Eriksson's successor when
the Swede steps down after the Germany tournament this summer.


Steve McClaren, Alan Curbishley, Martin O'Neill and Sam Allardyce are
thought to be the four in the running but Ferdinand insists the
players are not being distracted by the ongoing saga.


He continued: "We've got to look beyond that to the World Cup, that's
the most important issue at the moment.


"I just think the FA have got to find the right man for the job.
Sven's leaving and we've just got to get on with it as players and
then when it's time for him to go it's up to the FA, we've got no say
or bearing on what does happen.


"But as long as it goes to the best man for the job and he can bring
the best out of the players he has got at his disposal then that's
great for English football."