Boss plays down Rooney fears

Roy Hodgson has no worries about Wayne Rooney's temperament as the Manchester United striker prepares to make his Euro 2012 debut.

The England manager has confirmed that Rooney will be in his starting line-up against Ukraine on Tuesday night in his side's make-or-break Group D decider in Donetsk. The United star had to sit out England's opening two group games against France and Sweden as he was serving a ban after being sent-off in his country's final qualifying fixture against Montenegro. Concerns had been raised that Rooney might be a little over-eager to make up for lost time but Hodgson has no fears whatsoever about the forward's self-control in what will be his first start since playing for United five weeks ago. The former West Brom and Liverpool boss said: "I am not concerned about Wayne going over the top. It is a good point to make but I am sure other people apart from myself will be keen to remind him what we want is a good team performance. "We want him to help us win a game of football. I have been very impressed with his attitude in training and I have no fears about him. "People say he may be ring rusty but from what I have seen he is every bit as sharp as when he played his last game for Manchester United."