Fabio Capello has given Wayne Rooney an early wedding present by claiming that the Manchester United forward will be one of the best players in the world. Rooney has struggled to produce his best form for England since Capello replaced Steve McClaren last December, but the Italian is a patient man. “I believe Rooney has a very good chance of becoming one of the best in the world,” the England manager said in an interview in FourFourTwo magaine. “He’s still young and will have lots of chance to improve.

“The problem is this: England play only a few games and so everyone remembers everything about these matches. For your club you play maybe 59 or 60 times a year, so everyone forgets those occasions when you don’t play well – you might play badly on the Saturday, then do well on Wednesday. But when you play for England you have to wait a couple of months to get another chance.

“I’ve seen Rooney play with United many times. I’ve seen him play lead striker, right wing, left wing, sometimes right back! So for this reason I’d accept Rooney in any role on the field.”

Rooney is marrying Coleen McLoughlin in Italy on June 14.