England coach Fabio Capello is considering playing Manchester United's Wayne Rooney in a lone striker role at the World Cup.

The Daily Mail says Capello is considering a radical change to his plans for the World Cup that will see Rooney play as a lone striker with two flying wingers in Aaron Lennon and Theo Walcott.

The system is still very much in the experimental stage. But in training in Irdning on Friday Lennon was deployed down the left side and asked to deliver cross after cross.

Not convinced by Emile Heskey, Peter Crouch, Darren Bent or Jermain Defoe as a second striker, Capello is exploring the idea of playing Steven Gerrard in much the same role he occupies when supporting Fernando Torres for Liverpool.

Frank Lampard and a further midfielder - ideally Gareth Barry but probably James Milner or Ledley King - would then sit in central midfield.

The England manager has been reluctant to select Rooney up front on his own, but his view has changed after the striker's impressive season in that role for Manchester United.