Wayne Rooney is 'worn out' ahead of the World Cup finals in
South Africa, according to United States midfielder Landon Donovan
who believes the long season is catching up with the England
striker.
Rooney has been troubled by an ankle and groin injuries in
recent weeks, the latter of which forced him off early in
Manchester United's final Barclays Premier League encounter with
Stoke last weekend.
That match was Rooney's 49th for club and country in a season
when the 24-year-old has shouldered United's hopes like no other
time during his Old Trafford career.
Worn out: American Landon Donovan reckons Rooney is
feeling the strain of a long campaign
And Donovan, who will lead the United States against England in
their World Cup opener in Rustenburg on June 12, reckons Rooney is
showing signs of being 'worn out' after his heavy workload.
'Rooney is a top player. In my opinion, he is one of the best
players in the world right now,' said Donovan.
Struggle: Rooney has been hampered by injuries of
late but hopes to fit for South Africa
'But the other part of it is that he has played a lot of games
and he is tired. He is probably worn out.
'Injuries are a part of that. Things happen when players are
tired. When they just keep adding games to the schedule, it makes
it difficult.
'Any time you come into a World Cup, because of the timing of
it, big players who play a lot of games in Europe are coming right
at the end of their season, so it is always an interesting dynamic
how to balance that.'
Donovan saw the pressure on Rooney and his England team-mates
first hand last season when he spent a part of the campaign on loan
with Everton.
The 28-year-old made 10 appearances for the Toffees as he sought
to maintain his match fitness ahead of this summer's finals and
after sampling the football-centric culture in England believes all
the pressure will be on the USA's Group C rivals in South
Africa.
'Of course, there is more pressure on the English players,' he
added.
Pretty in pink: Landon Donovan enjoyed a successful
short-term loan stint at Everton earlier this season
'If we don't do well in the World Cup, people care for a little
bit.
'But if England doesn't do well in the World Cup, it is
absolutely devastating to their country, their families, to their
people.
'That is something they [England] live with. I don't know if
they look at it that way, but that is how I look at it.'