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Rooney excited by England youngsters

Wayne Rooney and his England team-mates are just one win away from reaching the World Cup © Getty Images

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Wayne Rooney has denied there is a lack of quality coming through the ranks for England and believes the current crop of young players will bring success to the Three Lions in coming years.

Debutant Andros Townsend and 24-year-old Daniel Sturridge scored in the 4-1 win over Montenegro on Friday, putting England just one win away from the World Cup finals.

Manchester United striker Rooney is confident the younger generation can fire England to a win over Poland at Wembley on Tuesday to seal top spot in Group H and prove there is a bright future for Roy Hodgson's side.

"We have to reach the finals first, but I am sure once we do that the manager will have a few games to prepare for the tournament," Rooney said. "We have got some very exciting players, young exciting players.

"I think all the talk about 'there's not enough good English players' - well, we have got six, seven or eight young players. Andros (Townsend) did great, he's an exciting player with a great future and then you have (Danny) Welbeck, (Daniel) Sturridge, (Phil) Jones, (Chris) Smalling, (Jack) Wilshere, (Alex) Oxlade-Chamberlain, (Theo) Walcott - the players we have got there, there's some talent.

"So, we are happy with the squad we have got and are looking forward to the future."

Anything other than a win against Poland will put England under significant pressure, but Rooney is confident a repeat performance of the Montenegro match will leave his side's fate in their own hands.

"It's a massive game," Rooney added. "Poland are probably a better team at the moment than Montenegro.

"I think they are much more dangerous on the counter-attacks and we will have to prepare well for that. But if we perform like we did against Montenegro then we will be okay."

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