England squad must be better role models, says Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney says he has matured as a person and accepts the responsibilities that come with playing for England.

Wayne Rooney has reacted to a month of lurid allegations surrounding England players by conceding he and his national team-mates do have a social responsibility to be better role models. The Manchester United striker admitted that it was this realisation that prompted him to reinvent his own image over the past few years.

Fabio Capello's squad convened at their Hertfordshire training base yesterday for tomorrow's friendly against Egypt with the deposed captain, John Terry, back in the fold despite the furore generated by his alleged affair with Wayne Bridge's former partner, Vanessa Perroncel. Rooney said the Chelsea centre-half is still an integral player if England are to stand any chance of success at the summer's World Cup finals, though he offered a reminder too of the greater responsibilities that come with life in the public eye.

"It is difficult as a footballer because you know people look up to you," Rooney said. "You are role models whether you like it or not. You need to try and be aware of that, try and do your best on the pitch, and try to do things well for kids to see.

"When I first joined Manchester United I used to go out to nightclubs but it is very rare that I would go out to a nightclub now. It changes with age, of course, but I made that decision myself. I got into a few things that I shouldn't have and I tried to change that. I am settled at home now. It's all good. I am enjoying my life with my family. I spend a lot of time at home with them and that has obviously benefited me. When you are home you get your rest and it is definitely benefiting me."

Rooney's recognition that England's players have greater responsibilities than merely maintaining standards on the pitch will tally with the views expressed by Capello, who said last week that his decision to relieve Terry of his duties was born of a moral belief that "children look to these players as an example for life". Capello will remind his players of their wider responsibilities before the Egypt game, having opened yesterday's training session by telling them that World Cup preparations effectively start now.

"But we are happy to have John around," said Rooney when asked if the controversy whipped up by the Perroncel affair had unsettled the national squad. "He is a great player. If we are going to win the World Cup then we need John Terry. He is a big player for us and we need him.

"John is a great captain and, whether he has the armband or not, he will still be a great leader for us at the World Cup. Rio has obviously captained United to Champions League success and Steven Gerrard has done the same at Liverpool. We have some great captains in the team and I don't think we will be short."

Rooney has urged England fans not to boo Terry at Wembley. "I hope the fans don't because I have played in England teams when some of our own players have been booed and it's not nice for the whole team not just the player who has been booed," he said.

"When you are leading up to a World Cup, you want the fans behind you and giving you their whole support. That will be really important so I hope he gets a good reception."  Capello oversaw a skeleton squad at London Colney yesterday given that 11 of his players had been involved in club fixtures on Sunday and were restricted to light work, but will welcome Rooney back to training today after the United forward underwent treatment on a minor knee problem aggravated in his match-winning performance in the Carling Cup final.

Rooney's goal tally for the season now stands at an impressive 28, with the forward conceding that England's chances in South Africa may depend on him maintaining such form. The Germany coach, Joachim Löw, described him as "unstoppable" last week to serve notice of his burgeoning reputation. "I do feel unstoppable," said Rooney. "I feel I am going to score in every game I play. I am ready for all the attention – it cannot be as bad as before 2006 when the team were preparing and, most days, the focus was just on whether I would be fit. Now I am in the best form of my life, and I'm ready. I hope I can make a difference for England at the World Cup. I know that, if I have a good World Cup, we will have a chance of doing well."