Having seen Wayne Rooney at close hand this season, I believe strongly that he should play for England in the role he does in the big games for Manchester United.

I’d play him up top on his own with Stevie Gerrard in behind him. If it’s panic stations with 10 minutes to go in any knockout game at the World Cup, and we’re a goal behind, we have Emile, Crouchy and Defoe who can come on. England have a lot of variety upfront but I’m convinced Wayne up top with Stevie behind is the best combination to start games.

When I was playing upfront with Wayne for England, I would be the furthest up and he would float in behind, trying to create as well as score, almost linking the team together. Wayne is so good he’d get everyone playing. But we have all seen this season the damage he inflicts on defences when playing in the most advanced position. They just can’t handle him.

When Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid, United needed somebody to make up that massive gap of 40-odd goals a season. Sir Alex Ferguson says he was going to play Wayne further up anyway and Wayne has responded brilliantly to the new role the manager gave him. Sir Alex has turned Wayne into a player who scores prolifically rather than in fits and starts like he used to. It’s a very different role and for Wayne to be so successful straight away is amazing. He scored 34 goals in 44 games for United, including the Community Shield, and that’s a phenomenal return.

Wayne used to play in behind, linking play, spraying the ball about, feeding the wide men and releasing the striker but that limited him. It was very difficult to be working deep and getting in the box as well and that was reflected in the amount of goals he was scoring – less than half the number he’s getting now.

In his new position at United, and one I genuinely believe he should now be doing for England, Wayne can still come off and link but he’s expected to be in the box. He’s running in behind defenders, getting the ball, beating players and competing for scraps around the keeper and scoring loads with his head. It’s a total change to what we’ve all seen for many years. To adapt so quickly and effectively shows Wayne for what he is: world class. It’s really been a masterstroke by Sir Alex.

Everyone insists strikers must be selfish and single-minded but I don’t go wholly along with that. Just because Wayne scores 34 goals in a year doesn’t mean he’s a selfish player. He wouldn’t get voted the Players’ Player of the Year if he didn’t work for the team. He’s far from selfish.

Wayne genuinely gets as much pleasure setting up a goal as scoring. I see the excitement in his eyes when he congratulates me when I’ve scored. It’s exactly the same look of delight as if he’s scored.

Wayne is the ultimate team player. If there’s a goal to be scored then of course he’ll pull the trigger. If there’s someone in a better position, Wayne will play them in. He’s got this great vision and is so aware of other people around him. In fact, Wayne’s probably the most unselfish striker I have ever played with. To score so many and have so many assists is a fantastic combination.

I think if Fabio Capello moved Wayne up it would bring the best out of the midfielders as well as Wayne. One of England’s strengths is we have a lot of top-quality centre-midfield players, the likes of Stevie and Frank Lampard, who have scored so many goals for their clubs. I would play to our strengths, have a holding midfielder and then free Stevie and Frank to join in with Wayne. Frank does it for Chelsea, bombing on and scoring. Stevie certainly does it for Liverpool and is best in that position, linking with Fernando Torres. Wayne is so intelligent in his movement and thinking that he’d work superbly with Stevie and Frank.

I could spend all day listing Wayne’s attributes. One of his most important qualities is that nothing seems to faze him. He has this unbeatable blend of utter focus and being really relaxed leading up to games. Some players change and get into match mode, not just strikers as every player is so important nowadays. England cannot afford one weak link in the chain otherwise we will be sent packing from the World Cup. International football is becoming more and more like chess, increasingly tactical, and every one of the starting XI must be right on top of his game, really focused and sharp, whether striker, goalkeeper, defender or midfielder. Wayne is a fantastic example to everyone of how to concentrate hard and be calm at the same time.

We can rest easy as a nation. Wayne won’t curl up or bottle it. Wayne knows as well as everyone in the country that England rely on a certain few players and he’s the vital. If those handful of players don’t perform England don’t have a chance of winning the World Cup. That’s the expectation Wayne lives with and it’s not a problem for him. I know how much he relishes the fact that the whole country are willing on him, believing in him to do something special for England. That’s what makes him tick.

Wayne’s used to the expectation. The weight of the country’s hopes sits easily on his shoulders. That’s been part of his life for a few years now. Everyone knows Wayne’s the main man and so does he. He’s done so well for England for a few years now that there’s no reason in his own mind that anything will change. Wayne will keep on producing for England.

Any footballer at the top, as Wayne is, doesn’t think about any pressure. Wayne’s exceptionally talented and he knows that. So there’s nothing for the country to worry about. He can handle anything. Wayne’s not big-headed. He doesn’t shout his mouth off. It’s just there’s this confident aura about him that speaks of a footballer who knows he’s exceptional. He doesn’t bother with pressure.

Wayne offers so much to Fabio Capello and not just on the pitch. The manager will be looking for good characters, something that’s really important if England are to be away from home for some time. Wayne’s great around the squad because of his positive personality. There’s no ego to England’s best player. For England to have someone like Wayne who is so important to the team and so good for the dressing room as well, he’s almost double his worth.