Hate will make Roo great! England stars' Monte warning

WAYNE ROONEY will make Montenegro pay if they try to wind him up tomorrow.

The warning came from England stars Joleon Lescott and Tom Cleverley ahead of the crucial World Cup qualifier. Roo was sent off the last time England played in Podgorica two years ago and a hostile atmosphere is expected.

But Manchester City defender Lescott said: “The backlash could enhance his performance.

“They might play on his temperament but Wayne has matured now.

“He is older and more experienced and I am sure he will be professional enough to deal with anything that they throw at him.

“There will be a lot of expectation on him but he won’t let that faze him in any way.

“He will just be focused on producing the goods.”

And Rooney’s Manchester United team-mate Cleverley added: “I don’t think he will be inhibited. Wayne’s a born winner and a good character to have for club and country.”

Last time the sides met — in a Euro 2012 qualifier — Rooney was red-carded for kicking Miodrag Dzudovic.

England ended up hanging on for a 2-2 draw to qualify for the finals.

Montenegro’s players claim they will look to wind up Rooney again.

But England boss Roy Hodgson declared: “I’m sure Wayne’s capable of writing off the incident.

“He’s paid his price and I’d like to think he’d forget all about it.”

England ref boost

ENGLAND’S referee for tomorrow’s clash is an easy-going Swede — who has already given Wayne Rooney one dodgy penalty.

The striker returns to the ground where he was sent off by German official Wolfgang Stark in 2011 for kicking an opponent.

But Jonas Eriksson, 38, takes charge tomorrow — and he rarely shows a red.
He also gave England a soft spot-kick in a 2-1 friendly win over Slovenia at Wembley in 2009 when Rooney appeared to have dived.

Eriksson, a former journalist, became an overnight millionaire when he sold his stake in a Swedish media rights firm.