Manchester United ace Wayne Rooney was blocked from discussing his religion yesterday by England officials.

The Independent says Rooney was asked about the prominent cross he has been wearing during England training.

He replied: "It's my religion."

This seemed to open up an interesting new flank in the Rooney story until England FA's head of media relations, Mark Whittle, offered an aside: "We don't do religion."

But before that, Rooney had already offered enough information to offer an intriguing insight into his Catholicism, though.

Of the cross he said: "I've been wearing them for years now and you don't usually watch training [to see them.] I obviously can't wear them in games."