How I'll stop Rooney

Seventeen years, one division and a whole lot of hype may separate them but if all goes to plan Andy Melville will be marking Wayne Rooney on Saturday. That would be a difficult enough assignment for any defender but the 35-year-old Melville isn't even a regular in the West Ham team right now. Needless to say, he is expecting to be kept rather busy.

"I played against Wayne in my last Premiership match for Fulham in January," he said. "We ended up beating Everton 2-1. To be honest he frightened the life out of us that day and we know we'll have our work cut out to cope with him at Old Trafford on Saturday."

Although Melville missed Wales's last game - Mark Hughes surprisingly omitting him for the 2-2 home World Cup qualifier draw against Northern Ireland - he is hoping to displace one of the Cardiff pairing of Danny Gabbidon and James Collins for what could be the chance of a lifetime.

So what is the game plan?

"I know it's a big challenge for whoever plays but I still hope it's me," said Melville.

"When you get to your mid-30s, you have to make the most of matches like this one. I've won 66 senior caps for Wales but I've never played against England so I hope to put that one straight."

Asked again just how he would play against Rooney and the Melville brow becomes deeply furrowed.

"You expect to be up against players of this calibre in international football . . . that's what it is all about," he said. "Wayne, though, is very difficult to mark in my experience. He can play up front as an orthodox target man or he can drop off in that Teddy Sheringham role which makes things difficult for defenders.

"Perhaps the best way to play against an England team including Wayne is to try and maybe stop the service to him as much as you can, close down on their midfield players and try to prevent them getting their passes away.