Sven Goran Eriksson has declared Wayne Rooney a genuine candidate for the Fifa World Player of the Year award at the age of just 18.
England coach Eriksson is on the panel of experts who have helped to draw up a long list of 30 candidates, which is set to be released early next week.
Rooney will be on that list, but it remains doubtful that David Beckham and Michael Owen will also be included, with Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Sol Campbell more likely to be on it.
International team coaches and captains, as well as the international players´ union FIFPro, will then vote for their preferred choices - and Eriksson believes Rooney could come close.
" At Euro 2004, he was one of the best players, if not the best," he said. " Is he a genuine candidate? I think so. But suddenly when you talk in those terms, the competition is high.´´
Eriksson witnessed Rooney´s spectacular return to action for United on Tuesday night, with his hat-trick in the Champions League victory against Fenerbahce.
" I was very surprised as he hadn´t played for so long. I know that he can play at that level, but I don´t think anyone expected it in his first Champions League game. That was remarkable,´´ he added.
" He had not played football since June 24 and, from what I understand, he had just four or five sessions with the ball before that game.
" Probably when you´re 18 and mentally strong with all the qualities he has, he might be even better in the future."
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