Rooney wins PFA player of the year award

Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney won the Professional Footballers’ Association player of the year award at a ceremony here on Sunday and then declared his readiness for the World Cup.

Rooney, currently out of action with a groin injury, is widely regarded as being central to England’s chances of winning the World Cup in South Africa later this year.

“I’m good,” Rooney told guests at the PFA dinner at Grosvenor House in central London.

“I’m disappointed to miss a couple of games. Hopefully I will play before the season finishes.”

Asked if he would be fit in time for South Africa, Rooney replied: “No problems for the World Cup.”

Rooney dismissed suggestions England could not win the World Cup, which starts in June, without him: “We’ve got a lot of great players. If I get injured, so be it.”

He added: “Watching games is very frustrating.”

Rooney, asked for a definition of World Cup success, said: “Success would be to win the trophy. We prepared well and hopefully we can bring the trophy back home.”

England have won the World Cup just once, in 1966 when they triumphed on home soil.

Reigning champions United trail Chelsea by one point in the English Premier League title race with two games remaining and may need a favour from arch rivals Liverpool if they are to overtake the London club.

“I’m sure Liverpool will want to beat Chelsea,” Rooney said.

“They are a proud club and they are still aiming to qualify for Europe.”

Asked what had made the difference to a season where he has already scored 34 goals, Rooney replied: “The manager (Sir Alex Ferguson) is playing me in a more central position up front which I’ve been asking him to do for a few years now and the service has got better.”

Rooney, twice a former young player of the year, topped a poll of his fellow professionals in England to ensure the senior award stayed at Old Trafford after Cristiano Ronaldo’s double in 2007 and 2008 was followed by United great Ryan Giggs’s success last year.

Cesc Fabregas, the Arsenal and Spain midfielder, was third with Chelsea striker Didier Drogda the runner-up.

Aston Villa and England midfielder James Milner won the young player of the year award.

Former South Africa international Lucas Radebe, who played in England’s Leeds United, won the PFA special merit award for his community work in both countries.