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Weight of expectation making Rooney half the player

Wayne Rooney has struggled at the World Cup © Getty Images

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Wayne Rooney is suffering from the burden of expectancy and is currently playing at only 50% of his capabilities, according to Soccernet sources inside the England camp.

Rooney, who has never scored a World Cup goal, has struggled for form so far in South Africa and there have been fears that he is suffering from burnout after a long season that ended with injury problems.

However, one of Fabio Capello's trusted aides told Soccernet: "It might be [burnout], but we feel that he has grown in his fitness [and] it clearly a psychological condition, which has nothing to do whether he is fit or not, but more about confidence, lifting the pressure from his shoulders.

"In training, we see a different Rooney, one who is really sharp. He has to release the pressure he must clearly be feeling and one goal will do that for him, we are sure.

"He nearly scored against Slovenia and, although it looked as though he missed, the goalkeeper got a hand to it and turned it against the post. Rooney really needed that goal, and we are sure it will eventually arrive."

England are desperate for Rooney to get his World Cup on track but, having reached the second round without relying on their key man, there is room for optimism ahead of Sunday's second-round meeting with Germany.

"Rooney is one of the few elite players in the world, but at the moment we are only seeing 50% of Wayne Rooney," the source added. "If we have managed to get this far, where we are now, with Wayne Rooney not playing to his full capabilities, imagine what England can achieve once Rooney is 100%."

Capello has generally selected Emile Heskey to partner Rooney in a bid to bring out the best of the Manchester United star, but Jermain Defoe came in against Slovenia and scored the only goal of the game.

It has largely been assumed that Defoe will keep his place against Germany as a result, but the source insists it is not a foregone conclusion.

"You know with Defoe that if you give him a couple of chances he will score," he said. "However, you also know there are players who are better at working within the team framework, who pressure defenders better, [but] it is difficult to give up a second striker who is capable of getting among the goals.

"As soon as the Slovenia game was over, Fabio was studying the tapes of the Germany-Ghana game. He is searching for weaknesses, and he will select his side accordingly. That makes it more complicated than assuming it will be the same side, even though I think it will be."

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