Rooney set to give Eriksson's diamond a cutting edge

In the absence of you-know-who, the England player the Teesside crowd gathered on a path by Middlesbrough's training complex most wanted to look at yesterday was a 17-year-old none had heard of less than a year ago.

Tomorrow night those with tickets for the Riverside will not have to peer over a fence, past the security guards and across a field to look at Wayne Rooney. He will be in front of them wearing the No 9 of England against Slovakia.

Having decided the Everton teenager is fit to start the European Championship qualifier, Sven Goran Eriksson will stand down Emile Heskey, despite his unwavering belief in the Liverpool forward. In normal circumstances Heskey might have merely been shifted to the left flank, but the diamond formation demands a specialist midfielder, so Frank Lampard is likely to keep his place.

The decision to opt for Rooney is not just based on his explosive impact on England's last qualifier against Turkey. His game also appears to fit with Eriksson's preference for split strikers. When Heskey plays, Michael Owen often has to serve as the link with midfield but, by nature and inclination, he is better suited to prowling on the shoulders of defenders.

"Many times it's very important to have that type of player, especially when the distance between the attackers and the midfielders becomes too big," Eriksson said. He added: "Rooney is maybe more natural in that role. He plays more than Heskey does. Heskey is stronger up there, fighting for the ball with the central defenders."

The England coach's view was yesterday echoed by Gareth Southgate. He said: "Wayne offers a different style to Darius [Vassell] or Emile. He is more like Teddy Sheringham and links the play very well when he drops into midfield. Darius and Emile play further forward."

Of more concern to Southgate is how Slovakia will operate. On Saturday against Turkey they played with one man up, his Middlesbrough team-mate Szilard Nemeth. Though popular with supporters, Nemeth has struggled to earn a regular start with Boro but, said Southgate, his threat should not be discounted. Nemeth scored against England in Bratislava in October and Southgate said: "His style is probably more suited to international football. He is an instinctive player and he struggled with the physical demands of the Premiership in his first season but he scored some important goals for us last season."

Southgate also picked out Miroslav Karhan, the Wolfsburg midfielder who was the best player on the pitch when England played in Bratislava, as an opponent to watch. He added: "They will be good opponents but the conditions will be better this time [the previous qualifier was played in a quagmire] which will be in our favour."

While the focus is tomorrow's game, several players are aware that once it is over the well-known international currently in America is not the only one who may soon have to make significant career decisions. Others pondering the future include David James. Yesterday he again pledged himself to newly-relegated West Ham but added caveats.

"Mr Eriksson has already said First Division players would not be snubbed for the international squad," he said. "There is an issue of loyalty in football. We were responsible for West Ham's predicament ­ I played every match. Obviously if West Ham don't want me it is a different kettle of fish. Nor [if several other players are sold] do I want to be playing in a team full of under-21s."

But James added: "I've not made a decision yet. After the Slovakia game I have to sit down with West Ham and discuss where they are going."

* Wayne Rooney revealed yesterday how he turned his back on Liverpool while still at primary school. He said: "I was playing for Copplehouse under-9s at the time. After the game I was approached by a Liverpool scout who invited me to Melwood [Liverpool's training ground]. I went along but after going there just once I got a phone call from Everton. It was the call I had desperately wanted and that was it for me. I gave Liverpool the swerve after that."