Rooney comes of age for Capello

Wayne Rooney scores another two goals to help England overcome a shaky performance.

England's Wayne Rooney, second from right, scores past Belarus' goalkeeper Yuri Zhevnov.

Six years ago this week, Wayne Rooney's life changed forever. Arsenal, unbeaten in 30 games, were stunned as David Seaman clutched thin air and Everton rejoiced when he crashed home a 25-yard, last-minute winner on Oct 19, 2002. Five days before his 17th birthday he had announced himself into the big time. The plaudits followed, but being hailed as world class and England's great hope at such a tender age meant the striker would always have great expectations and encounter critics, often harsh, when he failed to meet them. In Minsk on Wednesday night Rooney showed it would be folly to write him off and just why he still carries the footballing hopes of a nation on his shoulders. Two expert finishes clinched a morale-boosting 3-1 win against Belarus, but Rooney's work-rate was so impressive too, blending perfectly into the team ethic manager Fabio Capello has created with this England team. As he approaches his 23rd birthday next week, Rooney will know he has not yet fulfilled the potential he showed as a youngster, not quite matching the exploits of a Lionel Messi or his Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo. But Steven Gerrard has no doubt about his ability, saying: "When he's like this, he's up there with the best in the world, a special talent. "Wayne's present form isunbelievable. If we get him in that kind of form he will certainly improve our team." The brace means Rooney has scored five in his last three internationals, sixth in seven for club and country. "I'm really pleased with my goals," he admitted. "You try to play with a smile on your face sometimes, but it's hard to smile when things aren't going right. "I think it's probably the best I've ever played for England. I'm enjoying my football, getting on the ball and scoring and making goals. He [Capello] has helped me with my finishing and we've worked a lot on that. We're going into games now believing we can win them. We've got a lot of confidence." Capello has now engineered four wins out of four in England's best-ever start to a World Cup qualifying campaign. They are five points clear of Croatia and Ukraine at the top of Group Six. But Capello refused to get excited: "It is just three points and it is only one step further. This, for me, must be remembered." [e-mail]