Rooney: Nightmare not to qualify

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Victory over Estonia at Wembley on Saturday would leave the team requiring only a draw in Russia next week and another in their final game against Croatia on November 21 to reach next summer's finals.

"For England, if we didn't qualify it would be a nightmare," he said. "As a player you want to play in all the big tournaments and around the time of the Andorra game we were under a lot of pressure."

He added: "But I always believed we were going to qualify. We have two games coming up and we know if we can get maximum points from them we will almost be in the tournament."

With Emile Heskey missing, Rooney is a certainty to partner Michael Owen in attack, although it is at the back where McClaren has most to ponder.

Veteran Portsmouth defender Sol Campbell is the obvious candidate to replace injured captain John Terry, whose knee injury was still so badly swollen on Thursday it was impossible to get an accurate assessment of the extent of the problem.

Although McClaren has not given up hope of Terry making the journey to Moscow, it appears highly unlikely the Chelsea man will make it, with cartilage surgery an equally plausible alternative.