Rooney won't consider Euro 'nightmare'

Wayne Rooney is refusing to contemplate the 'nightmare' of England failing to qualify for next summer's Euro 2008 finals.

Rooney is set to return to Steve McClaren's starting line-up alongside Michael Owen after returning to fitness from a broken foot.

McClaren's men head into their Group E clash with Estonia at Wembley knowing that a fifth successive victory would leave them requiring only a draw in Russia and another in their final game at home to Croatia to book their place in Switzerland and Austria next summer.

And Rooney, who has failed to find the back of the next for his country in a competitive game since Euro 2004, told reporters: "For England, if we didn't qualify it would be a nightmare.

"As a player you want to play in all the big tournaments and around the time of the Andorra game we were under a lot of pressure.

"But I always believed we were going to qualify. We have two games coming up and we know if we can get maximum points from them we will almost be in the tournament."

He added: "My England career started well but it hasn't really been on track for the last year or two.

"I have been frustrated with my form but it is not through lack of effort. I have given 110 per cent every time I have played but for some reason it just has not happened.

"It just makes me more determined to put it right and start scoring again."

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