ROON STILL A MATCH-WINNER - GERRARD

Steven Gerrard is backing Wayne Rooney to torment Croatia in Wednesday's vital European Championship qualifier and insisted: "He is capable of winning the game on his own."

Gerrard, who will miss the game through suspension, is convinced "a wonder goal is around the corner" from Rooney, who is struggling to recapture his best form after club and international suspensions.

The Manchester United player suffered the rarity of being substituted 15 minutes from the end of Saturday's woeful goalless draw with Macedonia at Old Trafford.

Gerrard said: "There is pressure on Wayne Rooney because he is our best player, because he is the best player the country has got, but he will deal with it, and I thought his performance against Macedonia was good.

"There is no problem with Wayne and I am sure it won't be long before there is another man-of-the-match performance from him and a wonder goal around the corner.

"He has been the best player in training. He has been smiling. I am not worried about Wayne Rooney's form."

Gerrard added: "I think it is the same with all the other countries and their best players.

"If they are not man of the match every week, people tend to get on their backs but that's why he is up there with the best players in the world because he can handle this pressure and he'll bounce back from it.

"I won't be surprised if he comes up trumps on Wednesday. Wayne is capable of going over to Zagreb and winning the Croatia game on his own. That's how good he is."

Gerrard is frustrated at not being able to play a part in trying to become the first country to topple Croatia in Zagreb in a competitive game since they won their independence 16 years ago, after collecting a second yellow card at the weekend.

He said: "I didn't think it was a booking. I think I did well to win the first tackle and then my momentum just took me into the second tackle.

"I said to the referee (Markus Merk) 'I got the ball' and he said 'I know you did - but it was the way you went into the tackle'. It is disappointing to miss Wednesday but hopefully the boys can go and get three points."

Gerrard also believes he is due a change of luck in front of goal after hitting the crossbar with a rasping 30-yard drive in the second half.

He said: "I hit it too well. It was the story of the game. I've hit the woodwork four or five times this season and I need my luck to change slightly."