Roy Hodgson has called upon Wayne Rooney to deliver an inspirational Pele-type performance to secure England's place in the Euro 2012 quarter-finals.

The manager could also start with Theo Walcott, who has shaken off a hamstring injury, instead of James Milner against Ukraine.

England need a draw to go through but a big win could see them top Group D and avoid Spain, who won Group C with a tense 1-0 victory over Croatia.

Smiles better: Wayne Rooney (second left) and manager Roy Hodgson get a look around the Donbass Arena

Topping the group would mean 24 hours more rest before meeting Italy on Sunday.

Hodgson said in an interview for ITV: 'If you look back through the years, if you take Pele for example, he was capable of producing his very best football when it really mattered to help Brazil win World Cups. We do need that greatness... let's hope that Wayne Rooney can start to do that for us on Tuesday night. Then, if we win, who knows?

'If Wayne can produce his best then he can help us keep going even further.'

England skipper Steven Gerrard is confident Rooney can deliver, saying: 'I know Wayne quite well, I am very close to him. I can see in his eyes he is itching to perform.'

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