Wayne Rooney says the best way to treat Marcus Rashford at Euro 2016 is to 'let him play'

The England captain has backed Roy Hodgson's decision to select his Manchester United team-mate

Marcus Rashford in training with England (Getty)

Wayne Rooney was eighteen years and eight months old when he announced himself on the international stage with England at Euro 2004, so there is more than a sense of history threatening to repeat itself with Marcus Rashford preparing to travel to France four months short of his nineteenth birthday.

But for a broken metatarsal suffered during England’s quarter-final defeat against Portugal in Lisbon, Rooney’s spectacular arrival as a global star may have taken Sven-Goran Eriksson’s team all the way to a glorious conclusion, yet the teenager’s four goals during the tournament have certainly given Rashford a high bar to clear, twelve years on, should he become a central figure in France.

That the Manchester United teenager has made it into Roy Hodgson’s 23-man squad for Euro 2016 is a remarkable story in itself, considering he was only thrust into the team at his club for the first time at the end of February due to a pre-match injury suffered by Anthony Martial ahead of the Europa League tie against FC Midtjylland at Old Trafford.

Rashford scored twice that night and subsequently ended the campaign with eight goals in 18 senior appearances for United, before scoring on his England debut against Australia last Friday.

Rashford started the season as a under-21s substitute in the Lancashire Senior Cup (Getty)

But despite the intensity of the spotlight that the young Mancunian now finds himself under, Rooney insists that he has seen no signs that Rashford is struggling to cope with his new-found status.

"Euro 2004 was obviously a long time ago now, but personally it was a good tournament for myself,” Rooney said. "With Marcus now in this tournament, for me he doesn't need much advice. Let him play.

"As a young lad that's how you'll see the best out of him. In the future, you can work on more advice, more instructions, but with some players you just let them play and I think he fits that category.

“His attitude is fantastic. He's really been left to play, he's done really well and I strongly believe he deserves his place in the squad.

“To be honest, I've not seen any signs of him changing over the last few months and, if he keeps going the way he is, he'll be a massive talent for England and Manchester United for a good few years.

"I think what is pleasing about him is that his attitude is first-class. He has shown that around the hotel and on the training pitch.”

Rooney’s impact in Portugal in 2004, albeit after two years in the Everton first-team, was aided by the element of surprise which a player can only enjoy once at a major tournament.

Wayne Rooney at Euro 2004 (Getty)

Rashford carries the same air of mystery for England’s Euro 2016 rivals and Rooney believes that his qualities can given Hodgson’s team an added edge in France.

“He can be a dangerous player for us,” Rooney said. “He had a fantastic debut, scoring after two or three minutes.

“With Marcus, he's a strong minded lad for 18, and he can certainly bring a lot of fear to defences for us when he plays.

“I think, as players, we appreciate how tough the decision was for Roy to make. You always want to see young lads doing well, though, and he deserves his place for the way he's played the last few months.

"I think the way he took coming into Manchester United's team and the way he has performed from when he come in, until the end of the season, has been incredible, really, for his age.

"And I think he certainly showed what he can do in his first game for England.”

As the oldest player in Hodgson’s squad, and approaching his 31st birthday in October, Rooney goes into his sixth major tournament having endured more lows than highs with England.

Since Euro 2004, it has largely been a tale of injury-enforced woe for the England captain, but Rooney insists that his desire and motivation to play for his country remains undimmed.

“When I first starting playing for England, I never looked at breaking the goalscoring record or getting 100 caps,” Rooney said.

“For me to play for my country means a lot, and that's still the same now. 110 caps down the line, I still get the same feeling playing for my country.

“I've never spoken to Roy and said: 'Please leave me out of this friendly game because it might benefit me with my club.' I've taken huge pride from playing for my country.

“I want to be successful and try and win a trophy and to lead the team into a tournament is a big moment for myself and one I don't take lightly.

“I'm hugely honoured to do that and I have confidence in myself and the team that we can do well.”