Moyes wants Eriksson to protect Rooney

David moyes believes Wayne Rooney could soon suffer burn-out if he is not handled properly by England. The Everton manager has seen his plans to control Rooney's progress and exposure ruined by Sven Goran Eriksson's decision to give the 17 year-old his full international debut against Turkey on Wednesday. The Swede has since said it will be difficult to leave him out of future line-ups given his current form.

Moyes would prefer Rooney not to play summer friendlies for England while Eriksson plans to include him in his squad for the next European Championship qualifier against Slovakia in June, and before then there are friendlies with South Africa and Serbia and Montenegro.

"I'm concerned that Wayne started training with us when he was 16 and just out of school on 1 June last year," Moyes said. "This season at the moment won't probably finish for him until the middle of June. That's over a year of constant football so the points I am trying to make are that we have to look after him and we have attempted to do that the best we can.

"I think England should try and do that as much as they can as well. What I have said is that of course Wayne should be involved in all international games, to play for England is a great honour for him and I would never stop him doing that.

"But Wayne has to have some holidays and some break and if he doesn't then we will be looking at burn-out. Taking him away continuously I don't think will be right for a boy who is 17."

He added: "I've not found he has had problems keeping his feet on the ground, but... I'm waiting to see how it has affected him. If it does then he will soon get a slap around the ears."