After suffering the injury during Manchester United's opening Premier League game against Reading, Rooney began pushing his recovery programme almost immediately.

At one point, the 21-year-old even felt he might be fit enough to figure in last month's Euro 2008 double-header with Israel and Russia, and certainly United's visit to his old club Everton on September 15.

Instead, Ferguson held Rooney back until the Champions League win over Sporting Lisbon the following week, since when the Merseysider has netted two goals in his last two appearances against Roma and Wigan.

And, while Rooney still believes he could have been back sooner, he acknowledges wiser counsel eventually prevailed.

"If I had played earlier, I would not have been being fair to myself," he said.

"I would not have been 100 percent fit and there would still have been a risk of it breaking again.

"Obviously, if there was a chance to play I would have loved to do so, but in the end, the right decision was not to."

Aside from hitting the goal trail again - something he badly needs to do for England having failed to hit the target in competitive combat since Euro 2004 - Rooney has also shown flashes of temper, which has threatened to land him in more trouble with referees.

Yet he insists any disciplinary problems are now a thing of the past, even if no-one should expect to see him smiling during Saturday's Wembley encounter with Estonia - at least until England are winning.

"I don't get fed up with people talking about my temperament because I don't think there is a problem," he said.

"If we are not winning I am not smiling, if we are winning I am.

"That tells you how much I want to win the game.

"Losing or drawing a game can cost us the league or a cup. I want to win all the time. If I don't, I am not happy."

Although Rooney is one of the most gifted, instantly recognisable and, it has to be said, wealthy Premier League stars, he remains a fairly level-headed individual.

Life may appear to be a series of glossy photo-shoots but he regards himself as normal; boring even.

"I am used to the spotlight but I hate it really," he reflected.

"I am a private person and when I finish training I either go over to my aunt and uncle's or just sit in and watch TV all day.

"It's quite boring really. I have just started playing golf, although I am not the best, and I play a bit of pool and also on the computer, but that's about it. People who write different things don't know me."

And it is fairly safe to assume the rugby Rooney will be dashing to watch after the full-time whistle on Saturday will be the Grand Final encounter between Leeds and St Helens at Old Trafford rather than England's World Cup showdown with France.

"I haven't seen the rugby," he smiled, almost apologetically. "I have been watching the rugby league instead."

Of course, the snap-shots into Rooney's life are only a side issue compared to the main business of helping England gain a win over Estonia that would leave them needing only a point against Russia in Moscow on Wednesday to virtually assure themselves of a place in next year's Finals.

Since the day he broke on to the international scene as a raw 17-year-old against Australia in 2003, the thought of an England manager leaving out a fully-fit Rooney has been viewed as a non-existent prospect.

Yet the Manchester United front-man accepts it was a distinct possibility had Emile Heskey not suffered the kind of broken metatarsal injury that has scarred his own career immediately after playing a starring role in the wins over Israel and Russia.

"My England career started well but it hasn't really been on track for the last year or two," he said.

"Emile was brilliant and I am sure if he was fit the manager would have had a difficult decision to make as to who he played up front.

"I have been frustrated with my form but it is not through lack of effort. I have given 110% every time I have played but for some reason it just has not happened.

"It just makes me more determined to put it right and start scoring again."

While coach Steve McClaren wrestles with selection issues that look increasingly likely to see Gareth Barry retain his place in central midfield, Nicky Shorey start ahead of Ashley Cole at left-back and Sol Campbell take over John Terry's central defensive berth, whether scans on the captain's knee injury are positive or not, Rooney knows he will be asked to provide support for leading marksman Michael Owen.

It is not a partnership that has always worked well, even though Rooney and Owen are, beyond question, the best two strikers McClaren has.

"Michael is an important player, who scores lots of goals for England and I am confident we can play together and do the job we need to do," said Rooney.

"It is different at club level because you are playing with people you train with every day. But if you are good enough, the chemistry will work and I am confident that will be the case between myself and Michael."