Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson may be just showing Fabio Capello how England can win the World Cup in 2010 by utilising star striker Wayne Rooney even more effectively.

Wayne Rooney’s form for Manchester United this season has been nothing short of sensational. 25 goals to his name in all competitions have propelled the striker into one of the best players in the world along with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Whilst Rooney himself has admitted that Fabio Capello has had a positive impact on his play. It appears a new system approach and position at Manchester United that has made Rooney truly world class.

Rooney himself in an interview with numerous Sunday newspapers said of Capello ‘He's changed everything. You need to watch yourself if you make a mistake in training. Everything has to be right. But he's done a fantastic job and we're very happy to have him. He's restored our confidence as a team and he's given me the freedom to play.’ Indeed Capello’s effect on the Manchester United marksmen cannot be undervalued; Rooney’s respect for Capello appears absolute.

What is becoming clearer and clearer is for England to have any chance of winning the World Cup in South Africa, Rooney is going to have to be fit and on top form. Sir Alex Ferguson may have just found the trick to unleash Rooney by employing him as a lone striker in a 4-5-1. It not only has given Rooney a magnificent boost in terms of goals and performances, but a turnaround in Manchester United’s fortunes after a sluggish pre-Christmas period. Rooney’s employment last season as the wide man in a 4-5-1 was always stifling the man’s ability. Yet with Cristiano Ronaldo in the form of his life, there was not much option. Rooney was too good to drop yet not scoring enough goals for the Red Devils. With Ronaldo now gone and the misfiring Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen consigned to the bench Rooney has been employed in the central striking position and Manchester United are being rewarded handsomely.

This I believe will give Fabio Capello a late yet crucial selection and tactical headache. Whilst I do not wish to discredit England or Capello’s achievements so far, the possibility of playing a successful 4-5-1 formation without the conundrum of Emile Heskey must be considered. Additionally Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard playing together centrally, both being able to push forward is too much of fantastic prospect to ignore. Rooney is proving at Manchester United that he can play up front alone with support from the wide positions. Fabio Capello should at least try this approach against Egypt on March 3rd. It would take out any question as to Emile Heskey’s position in the team, which whilst under the current system I feel he is important in creating space for others. Upon the application of a 4-5-1 system however Heskey would be on the bench. Rooney sitting up top on his own flanked either side by my preference of Aaron Lennon and on the left James Milner. In the three central positions Lampard, Gerrard and Barry. The Chelsea and Liverpool stars can support Rooney and Barry picks up the pieces.

Picking an England side is always controversial and even more so a formation, clearly a majority will disagree with me, but that’s the beauty of football. I think it is important to highlight Wayne Rooney has been fantastic playing upfront alone and for Fabio Capello not to have a look and attempt this system in a friendly would be a waste. Capello and England know the 4-4-2 with Heskey is reliable and can be slipped back to place if needed. Yet if Rooney is on this form in a 4-5-1 it must be tested. The 4-5-1 system Manchester United play would for England allow Heskey to be dropped and put one of the most inform men in the Premier League James Milner in the team. It’s an interesting proposition.

Do you think Fabio Capello and England should follow Sir Alex Ferguson's lead with Wayne Rooney?

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