Crouch keen to partner Rooney in attack

Peter Crouch says he will be the perfect partner for the returning Wayne Rooney when England play Macedonia in a Euro 2008 qualifier on Saturday. The Liverpool forward is tipped to play alongside Rooney, who is back for the Group E match following a...

Peter Crouch says he will be the perfect partner for the returning Wayne Rooney when England play Macedonia in a Euro 2008 qualifier on Saturday.

The Liverpool forward is tipped to play alongside Rooney, who is back for the Group E match following a three-match suspension for the red card he received in the World Cup quarter-final against Portugal.

Crouch has scored five goals in three games under coach Steve McClaren.

"Every time I have played alongside Wayne I have enjoyed it be-cause he is a creative player and that can only be good for me," Crouch told reporters yesterday.

"He is comfortable dropping off and wants the ball all the time. With him doing that, I can hold a high line and get into the box and get on the end of things."

Rooney has not scored a competitive goal for England since Euro 2004 and his form for Manchester United this season has been below par.

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