GROUP E: Rio Ferdinand has hit back at critics who claim Wayne Rooney is in a slump.

Rooney's England form has been under scrutiny because his goals have dried up in the last two years.

The Manchester United striker has scored only twice in more than two years for his country and has not found the net in a competitive international since Euro 2004.

He is still waiting for his first England goal in 2006 but it has been a year disrupted by injury and suspension.

Clubmate Ferdinand, 27, said: "He's had an interrupted season but people make more of a meal of it because it's Wayne Rooney. He brings a lot more to the team than just goals.

"He can set up scoring opportunities and his work-rate is up there with the best of them. If he's not scoring goals there are still not many defenders who like playing against him.

"For people to cast so much doubt on Wayne is far-fetched in my eyes. He set himself the highest standards and he has to attain them every time he goes out on a football pitch."

Rooney, 20, has only made five appearances for England this year and four of those were at the World Cup, where he lacked match sharpness after breaking a foot.

He will play his first game under new boss Steve McClaren against FYR Macedonia tomorrow.

McClaren is expected to pair Rooney in attack with Peter Crouch, who has scored 11 goals in his last 10 England games.

Meanwhile, Rooney insists he does not blame the FA for failing to overturn the three-match ban he picked up for his sending off in a pre-season friendly.

The England striker was sent off while playing for Manchester United against Porto in Amsterdam and the suspension imposed by the Dutch FA was upheld by their counterparts at Soho Square.