Rooney set for Switzerland trip

Wayne Rooney is expected to fly out with the rest of the England squad to Switzerland on Monday, despite allegations about his private life in two tabloid newspapers (England 5/6 to beat Switzerland).

The Manchester United star is in the spotlight after stories in the News of the World and the Sunday Mirror.

But an FA spokesman said that, as things stand, Rooney will be on board when the players head to Basle for their Euro 2012 qualifier.

Rooney had a hand in all three of Jermain Defoe’s goals against Bulgaria on Friday night in the 4-0 win at Wembley, and is expected to start providing he is in the right frame of mind.

The 24-year-old had ended a five-month goal drought in his club’s 3-0 Premier League win over West Ham last week.

If he does not play, Capello has a problem as to who should partner Defoe, with Peter Crouch and Bobby Zamora unfit.

West Ham’s Carlton Cole or Sunderland’s Darren Bent could earn a start against the Bulgarians.

In the absence of the injured Michael Dawson in defence, Capello must decide between West Ham’s Matthew Upson, Everton’s Phil Jagielka or Bolton’s Gary Cahill.

“I have to decide about the position but Cahill is young and has a big future,” said Capello.

“It is good for the players who have not played a lot of games to come into the team when we are doing well. It is not so easy when we are not.”

The England (2/9 to win qualifying group G) manager says Rooney revelled on Friday in a slightly deeper position than he has been used to.

“Rooney was always been given the licence to move around freely but this time he had to come back more and to play in the hole,” said Capello.

“With James Milner left, Theo Walcott on the right and then Adam Johnson later, it was a great position for him.

“It depends on the opponents. If they put one midfielder in front of their back four the position Rooney played is not as easy.

“But in this game, with Defoe running behind the defence I chose it for him.”

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