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ITV

Rooney surprised by call-up

12.00PM GMT, 9 Feb 2003

Everton's teenage sensation Wayne Rooney admits he did not expect to be called up for the full England squad.

The 17-year-old will become the youngest ever England international if he appears during the friendly against Australia at Upton Park on Wednesday.

It is the first time he has ever been called up to represent his country and his first call-up comes before he has played for the England under-21 side.

Rooney said: "When the gaffer told me I was in the squad I was really happy and asked when the Under 21s had to report. He just laughed, shook his head, and said: `No, the full squad'. I couldn't believe it.

"To have the chance to be around senior internationals is going to be a great experience for me and I can't wait."

Former Everton manager Joe Royle believes Sven-Goran Eriksson decided to call Rooney up to avoid him playing for another country.

Royle said: "He is possibly up for grabs for a number of nations. Sven will want to put a stamp on him. I am sure Sven wants to see him as soon as possible in an international atmosphere. Equally I am sure David Moyes (Everton manager) would like it to be at least 12 months down the line.

"I know David is protecting him as well as he can at the moment. The kid is just 17 and it is immense for him. He is having all the growing pains he will get at this age and it will be hard for him. But he is a prodigious talent and the sooner we see him the better I suppose."

Rooney would not be allowed to play for any other country once he has played in a competitive international for England either at full or under-21 level, but the game against Australia is only a friendly so he would still be able to represent any other country he might qualify for.

Former international striker John Aldridge was among the candidates to replace Mick McCarthy as Republic of Ireland but the job went to Brian Kerr. Aldridge thinks the Football Association of Ireland should try to find out if they can poach Everton's prodigy.

He said: "That would have been one of my first agendas to give him a ring and see how he qualifies.

"From an English perspective it is good to get him in the squad straight away. It keeps the wolves from knocking at the door. He is a fantastic young player."

Rooney will be 17 years and 111 days old on Wednesday but the youngest England international to date was James Prinsep who played against Scotland at Kennington Oval in 1879 at the age of 17 years and 252 days.

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