Gerrard hit back at Scholes over Rooney

Gerrard hit back at Scholes over Rooney

Steven Gerrard has hit back at former England
team-mate Paul Scholes after he claimed Wayne
Rooney should be left out at the World Cup if
required.
Scholes questioned whether Roy Hodgson had the
nerve to drop Rooney if he failed to deliver at his
third World Cup.
But Gerrard claimed Rooney is in peak condition as
England prepare for Friday night’s clash with Peru at
Wembley.
The England & Liverpool captain said: ‘Paul Scholes
is wrong. He’s been Manchester United’s best player
at home and in Europe. He’s been in terrific form.
What I’ve seen from his performances in the United
team, he’s been really positive.
‘He’s in a better frame of mind going into this
tournament than he’s had going into previous
tournaments when he’s had injuries.’
England manager Roy Hodgson agreed. He said: ‘Of
course I don’t think he’s past his best. I’ve selected
him in a 23-man squad that I’m very proud of. I
believe in Wayne Rooney, he’s still a young man.’
Rooney starts up front for England on Friday evening
in a strong line-up before the squad travels to
Miami on Sunday and Hodgson says he wishes he
could bottle the team spirit and use it against Italy
in the opening group game.
‘I’m looking at the three matches, I suppose. I’m
affected by this being our last game in England, a
massive crowd and a huge responsibility, so it’s not
an experimental team.
‘If I could bottle what I am seeing at the moment
and keep it like that and release it on June 14 I’d be
a happy man. Our job is to be in peak condition on
June 14. I couldn’t have wished for a better week.
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