Rooney always confident of winning fitness battle

BUHLERTAL, Germany, June 28 (Reuters) England striker Wayne Rooney said today he had not been rushed back to play in the World Cup finals.

Rooney also used his first news conference since breaking his foot on April 29 to play down his importance to England as they prepare for Saturday's quarter-final with Portugal.

''I know when I'm ready to play, the physios and the people who matter know when I'm ready to play,'' he said.

''A lot of what was written in the press was wrong. I was always confident and knew when I wanted to play and when I was fit to play.'' Rooney said he was looking forward to a World Cup final after turning the page on an injury that jeopardised his tournament.

''It's good to be here and back with the lads. I want to do my best and help win the competition,'' he said.

''I've always been positive from the day I got injured. My main aim was play and to have taken part in three of the four games so far -- I'm really happy with that.

''Hopefully I can play in another three.'' Rooney made his comeback in Group B games against Trinidad&Tobago and Sweden, before playing all 90 minutes of their 1-0 second round win over Ecuador.

Brushing aside the expectations on a 20-year-old seen as England's potential tournament winner, he said: ''It's a 23-man squad and it takes everyone to win the World Cup.

''There's a lot of pressure on us to do well and hopefully we can do that.

''We've got a lot of matchwinners in the team, look at Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard -- there are a lot of players who can take a game by the scruff of the neck and win it for us.

''I'm just part of the squad and want to do the best job I can for the team.'' The forward also made it clear he had not been rushed back to football with England in Germany.

''I know when I'm ready to play, the physios and the people who matter know when I'm ready to play,'' he said.

''A lot of what was written in the press was wrong. I was always confident and knew when I wanted to play and when I was fit to play.'' REUTERS DH VC1745