Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand hopes teammate Wayne Rooney will be fully fit for England's World Cup campaign.

Rooney is battling to shake his latest injury doubts.

Ferdinand said: "He has always limped into a tournament, he has always had problems injury wise. If you get a fresh Wayne Rooney going into a tournament, like we saw in Euro 2004, when he was young and fresh with no injuries, you saw a guy who frightened teams to death.

"I think he still has the capability to do that. You see that in a Manchester United shirt often enough. If he goes into a tournament fit, it gives England a better chance of doing well because he scores goals. Simple as that."

When asked about Rooney's temperament, Ferdinand said: "He is a big lad now. He is older, more mature. He has been in a lot of situations - he has been in every situation a player can be in.

"I have no worries about him dealing with that. I would rather see Wayne Rooney sent off once or twice a season because I want him to keep that fire in his belly. I don't want people to take that spark out of players, because I think you lose something out of their game."