Headboy Rooney makes hairline news

Wayne Rooney says his receding hairline is partly responsible for his improved heading prowess this season.

The 24-year-old England international took his goal tally for the season to 30 with two strikes against AC Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday and opened the scoring with his seventh successive headed goal at Old Trafford.

“It’s coming off my bald patch and that’s helping me score,” joked Rooney, who was speaking at a FIFA promotional event.

“I’ve been working on my heading a lot and thankfully it’s paying off.

“I’ve been in the box a lot more, I’ve been working on my timing and my finishing. I’ve played up front in every game I’ve played this season and that’s definitely the main reason for me scoring a lot of goals.”

Rooney’s rich form in front of goal has heightened expectations that he can fire England to World Cup glory in South Africa but he rejected suggestions he was feeling under pressure.

“No, to be honest, I don’t,” said Rooney. “I think I’ve had pressure since I started playing for Everton at 16 and for England at 17.

“I’ve managed to deal with that pressure and find a way to deal with it and it doesn’t really affect my game. I don’t think I have any problems there.”

England coach Fabio Capello recently awarded the England captaincy to Rooney’s United team-mate Rio Ferdinand and Rooney says he would like the armband to be handed to him one day.

“I think I’ve got qualities to be England captain so I hope one day to be able to do that,” he said.