Run-out Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney backed his England teammates to keep alive their Euro 2012 hopes in his two-match absence.

The suspended striker also marked out Manchester United team-mate Danny Welbeck as a player with the potential to become an England hero.

Welbeck's 38th-minute decider yesterday was his first goal in an England shirt. Rooney said: 'Danny's spell at Sunderland helped him.

'He came back bigger and stronger and started more United games last season and coped really well. It was great to see him get his first goal.

'I've seen enough to believe we will be fine without me for those games. I think four or five points will get us through the group and we're capable of beating France and Sweden.'

Rooney replaced Welbeck in the second half on Saturday to maintain manager Roy Hodgson's policy of seeing as many of his 23-man squad in action as possible.

Rooney said: 'It was good to get a run-out and, to be honest, it was a bit longer than I expected.

'It was important I got some rest and I had a good week, but I didn't think it would be fair for me to meet up as we were flying out.'