McClaren hails AJ work ethic
McClaren hopes Johnson will be a hit on Saturday
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Wednesday, 21, Mar 2007 10:48
England manager Steve McClaren says he has high hopes for the striking partnership of Andy Johnson and Wayne Rooney ahead of the crucial Euro 2008 qualifier with Israel.
McClaren says the work rate of both Everton's Johnson and Manchester United's Rooney is a massive benefit to the team when they are working without the ball.
And the former Middlesbrough boss says it is an attribute which makes them stand out from other strikers
He said: "I can see potential in Johnson and Rooney together. He has had a good season with Everton. He is a team player."
McClaren says that if the strikers can restrict opposing sides before attacks even begin then it sends out a signal to the rest of the side.
And to the England manager this is a quality all top strikers possess.
"He [Johnson] works hard for the team. Against Holland he was playing on the right wing but he still ran all the way back. You look at [Chelsea's Didier] Drogba last week. He was back on the edge of his own box. These players have to do that," McClaren explained.
"Strikers have to work as hard as anyone else in the team to defend. Andrew Johnson does that. Wayne Rooney does that.
"Defenders don't like to play against strikers like that. He wasn't fit for the last game but I am delighted to have him this time," he concluded.
The Everton forward looks set to win his sixth cap for his country on Saturday and will hope to open his international account having already netted 12 times for his club this season.