As the pressure begins to mount on Rooney, and he continues to dissapoint at club level, Mclaren places his faith firmly behind the striker for the next euro 2008 qualifiers against Macedonia and Croatia. As Darren Bent faces his call up for the England U-21 squad, Mclaren is seemingly paving the way for "golden boy's" return to the international stage. Rooney has not played for England since his red card in the world-cup quater final, as a result of which he recieved a two match international ban. The struggling striker has much to prove after not scoring a goal in two years for England. Niether has he scored for Man U in the champions league for two years. The record reads poorer still when you consider that Rooney has only scored in one of his last nine games. Recently Rooney has displayed a distinct lack of  the sharpness, ability and genius that set him above colleagues and set the world alight with stunning perfomances. His own lack of form is also partly due to his continued role at centre forward that has frustrated him. Instead of playing his natural role at creative atacking midfield, his talents are wasted up-front. Only if Mclaren plays Rooney in his prefered position, will he produce his best form, and will his true abilities be shown, because a return to form for Paul Scholes prevents this for the time being at Man United.