Rooney eyes Sir Bobby's record
Wayne Rooney admitted Sir Bobby Charlton's goalscoring records are in his sights.
Rooney became England's fourth-highest scorer of all time on Wednesday when he struck the winning penalty against Norway at Wembley.
His 41st international goal moved him ahead of childhood idol Michael Owen and within eight goals of England's leading scorer of all time, Charlton.
His record of 249 Manchester United is also in danger of tumbling, with Rooney just 32 goals short of the former England striker, who is now a director at Old Trafford.
Given that Rooney is 28, he still has plenty of time to break both records and he is convinced he can do it.
"I spoke to Michael (Owen) at St George's Park two days after the (Norway) game, and he wasn't too pleased," Rooney said on the eve of England's first Euro 2016 qualifier against Switzerland in Basle.
"I watched him as a boy growing up, so to go above him in the goal scoring charts is great.
"And I'd be a fool if I didn't look at Sir Bobby's record and feel capable of passing him. It's in my sights.
"Both his records have stood for a long time, and a lot of players have attempted to break them.
"Now they're in touching distance, the two of them.
"It's something I'd love to do. I feel I'm capable of doing it."
It was here, at St Jakob-Park, that Rooney scored his 26th international goal.
Much like now, the media spotlight shone brightly on the talented England front man.
A series of lurid stories in a Sunday newspaper put Rooney's frame of mind into question before the match while on the pitch his form had also come under scrutiny.
Rooney had gone 970 minutes without an England goal before he converted Glen Johnson's cross to put the Three Lions on course for a 3-1 qualifying win under Fabio Capello.
The debate about Rooney's form continues to burn as bright as ever, four years on.
Now the discussion centres on whether the 28-year-old should play as a central striker, a number 10 or out on the left wing.
Raheem Sterling's emergence means Rooney is no longer the only star of the team going forward, but the England captain could not care less where he starts Monday's game.
"Wherever Roy Hodgson wants me to play, I am happy to play. It is as simple as that," Rooney said.
"I am not interested in what anyone else thinks. I am here to play for England. Roy's the manager, he picks the team.
"I'll play to the instructions the manager wants me to do."
Sterling was the stand out performer in what was otherwise a drab an underwhelming performance from England against Norway.
There were glimpses of his potential in Brazil, where he starred against Italy during his first international start.
Rooney has been so impressed with Sterling that he has seen glimpses of former Arsenal and Holland star Marc Overmars in the Liverpool midfielder.
"I sat down with Raheem before the World Cup and showed him videos of Marc Overmars because he reminds me of him," said Rooney of Sterling, who was just three years old when Overmars joined Arsenal.
"I think he has the potential to be as good as Overmars. He's a young lad, but the potential he's shown is incredible.
"He's a fantastic player. You saw that last season, and with the start he has had to this season.
"He's quite an unusual player. He can play right across the front line, out wide. Although he's a small lad, he's really strong as well.
"He'll be a massive player for England for the next 10-15 years, and, unfortunately for Liverpool."
Hodgson looks set to replace the injured Daniel Sturridge with Danny Welbeck, who made a good impression off the bench against Norway.
Although England ended the match well, Rooney knows an improvement will be required to see off Switzerland, who unlike England qualified for the knockout stages of the World Cup.
Rooney admits he would take a draw on Monday night though."We want to win it, but if we get a point, so be it," Rooney said.