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Butcher: Man Utd striker Rooney genuine England great

Former England captain Terry Butcher insists Manchester United ace Wayne Rooney is already a Three Lions "great".

Butcher thinks the effect of the England captaincy on Manchester United striker Rooney, 29, has been immeasurable.

"I see him as one of the greats," Butcher, 55, told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek programme.

"Sixty goals would be magnificent but I think he could probably go beyond that."

Butcher added: "I was with [Scotland manager] Gordon Strachan yesterday and he was still on about being 'spooked' by England's intensity of play. It was as if Wayne Rooney had gone around the whole team, which I think he did, and said 'This is what's going to happen.'

"True to his word, it did happen. They reacted very well to that. As soon as the Slovenia game was out of the way they really got their minds set on coming out of the blocks quick."

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