Wayne Rooney 'happy to play' despite prostitute claims

The player flew to Switzerland with the squad yesterday following allegations that he had sex with a prostitute while his wife Coleen was pregnant with their first child.

At a press conference in Basel, Capello insisted that all the players remained "focused on the game" ahead of tonight's Euro qualifier.

Rooney, 24, who appeared grim-faced as he jetted off with the rest of the team from Luton Airport, has so far made no comment about the allegations.

But ahead of the second qualifier in the group stage, Capello suggested that the claims would not affect his game.

The 64-year-old Italian said: "He told me he is ready to play, he wants to play and I'm sure that he will play (tonight)."

The England team manager added: "I spoke to him and he is happy to play."

Asked about the impact on the team ahead of tonight's match, Capello said: "We are focused on the game, not about the private lives of the players."

England captain Steven Gerrard gave his support to Rooney during yesterday's press conference.

The Liverpool midfielder said of his international teammate: "Wayne is a big character. I have known him for a long time, he loves playing football.

"Yeah, he has an issue off the pitch but that will not stop him playing well (tonight)."

Gerrard continued: "I think every player does understand the responsibility of being a footballer at the top level.

"On the other hand, we are human as well and along the way we are going to make mistakes.

"I have made some throughout my career, we are human as well. It is just how you react to those mistakes."

He added: "At the end of the day, who am I to talk about things like that with Wayne Rooney? He's his own man.

"It's his private life. If the shoe was on the other foot, I wouldn't expect Wayne to divulge into my private life. I respect that
"Every player is his own man. We've all got private lives. We need to respect that."

On the back of a well-received performance during Friday's game against Bulgaria, Rooney is seen as central to England's attempts to progress to the European Championship finals.

But it is feared that the latest allegations, first carried by tabloid newspapers over the weekend, might affect the form of England's talisman.

There is also the possibility that if proven, the alleged relationship with a prostitute may see the player lose lucrative sponsorship deals.