‘Love Rat’ Rooney Finds England Release

The last few days have probably been among the most difficult in Wayne Rooney's young life.

On Sunday, the News of the World revealed that the Manchester United striker 'had a series of romps with a £1,200-a-time hooker' when wife Coleen was pregnant with their son Kai.

Rooney is said to be devastated, fearing that his marriage is at an end.

He played like a man with plenty on his mind at the World Cup, turning in a series of inept performances as England bowed out in the second-round.

But in the opening Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland, Rooney has performed as if without a care in the world.

It seems to have taken Fabio Capello over two-and-a-half years into his tenure as England coach to realize that Rooney operates best at international level behind a centre forward of Jermain Defoe's ilk, and the results have been spectacular over the last two matches.

Against Bulgaria and Switzerland, who were dispatched 4-0 and 3-1 respectively, Rooney caused havoc playing behind Defoe. He dropped into that corridor of uncertainty between the opposition's defense and midfield where he sprayed passes around at will, while also getting into dangerous shooting positions.

He ended a 12-month wait for an England goal when striking from close range against the Swiss in Basel. His celebration was muted as he was congratulated by Defoe and Glen Johnson. No skidding along on his knees or running ecstatically to the fans, this wasn't the time.

It is unknown whether Rooney, when facing Bulgaria on Friday, was aware that the story would break two days later but given the life-changing nature of Sunday's headlines, his performance against the Swiss was little short of sensational.

His passing was right on the money, while his movement and link-up showcased the sort of cunning England lacked in South Africa. This was by no means a case of Rooney answering his critics, just a young man with a lot on his mind producing the kind of class on the field that he seemingly lacks off it.

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