Rooney: I've not played well in an England shirt for years

Virtually since the day he broke onto the international scene as a raw 17-year-old against Australia in 2003, the thought of an England manager leaving out a fully-fit Rooney has been viewed as a non-existent prospect.

Off colour: Ronney trudges off after the draw in Israel

Yet the Manchester United front-man accepts it was a distinct possibility had Heskey not suffered the kind of broken metatarsal injury that has scarred his own career immediately after playing a starring role in last month's wins over Israel and Russia.

Heskey's absence offers Rooney another chance to impress - and end a goal drought in competitive action for England which stretches back to Euro 2004.

"My England career started well but it hasn't really been on track for the last year or two," he said.

"Emile was brilliant and I am sure if he was fit the manager would have had a difficult decision to make as to who he played up front.

"I have been frustrated with my form but it is not through lack of effort. I have given 110% every time I have played but for some reason it just has not happened.

"It just makes me more determined to put it right and start scoring again."

Despite amassing 38 caps so far, Rooney, who celebrates his 22nd birthday later this month, claims he feels like a new-boy in the current England squad.

His last appearance for the Three Lions came against Andorra in Barcelona in March, a match that will forever be remembered for the ferocity of abuse directed at manager Steve McClaren and his team as they struggled to overcome the part-timers.

Since then, Rooney has sat out five games through a combination of injury and suspension. Three of them - all qualifiers - have been won, transforming England's Group E prospects and totally changing the atmosphere around the camp.

"Coming in this week feels like my first squad again," said Rooney.

"You cannot help but notice a change in the atmosphere. It is far more relaxed now.

"When I was last involved, there was a lot of pressure on the team. Obviously, we have had good results over the last few games.

"I am sure that has helped and hopefully it will help us in the next few matches as well."

While McClaren wrestles with selection issues that look increasingly likely to see Gareth Barry retain his place in central midfield, Nicky Shorey start ahead of Ashley Cole at left-back and Sol Campbell take over John Terry's central defensive berth - whether scans on the captain's knee injury are positive or not - Rooney knows he will be ask to provide support for leading marksman Michael Owen.

It is not a partnership that has always worked well, even though Rooney and Owen are, beyond question, the best two strikers McClaren has.

"Michael is an important player, who scores lots of goals for England and I am confident we can play together and do the job we need to do," said Rooney.

"It is different at club level because you are playing with people you train with every day. But if you are good enough, the chemistry will work and I am confident that will be the case between myself and Michael."

Having found himself at the centre of a major club-versus-country row over his World Cup selection, Rooney has a unique insight into the arguments that continue over Owen's fitness.

The player insists he is fit; his manager, Sam Allardyce, has some concerns; and some Newcastle fans feel their £17million striker is more interested in England than he is the Magpies, an allegation Owen strongly refutes.

"As a player, you know your body better than anyone else," observed Rooney.

"If you feel you are fit to play then you should be fit to play.

"I don't want to get too involved. But I have been training with Michael and he seems fit."

An expected victory over Estonia this weekend would leave England in a strong position to qualify.

Not only would Russia have to beat McClaren's men in Moscow, they would also have to defeat Israel in Tel Aviv next month.

That is something that proved beyond England in March and only Croatia have managed in the past seven years.

"I always believed we were going to qualify," said Rooney.

"We have two games coming up and we know if we can get maximum points from them we will almost be in the tournament."