• Premier League

Rooney set to ditch headband

ESPN staff
October 16, 2013
Wayne Rooney lost his protective headband before he scored the opening goal © Getty Images
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Wayne Rooney believes he will not need to wear his protective headband any more.

The striker has been wearing it to cover the gash on his forehead that he sustained when Manchester United and England team-mate Phil Jones caught him accidentally with his boot in training at the end of August.

But Rooney headed England into the lead against Poland on Tuesday night without his headband, which had fallen off earlier, and he believes that helped him score.

"I went for a header just before I scored and it got knocked off, and then I chased back, so I didn't have time to go and get it," Rooney said afterwards.

"But it probably helped me in some ways that it was off when the ball came in, because I could direct it better."

Rooney is optimistic that he won't need the headband when United host Southampton on Saturday.

He added: "I think it is the first time I have headed the ball without it on, and hopefully, come the weekend, I won't have to wear it."

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