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Rooney will only get better - Hodgson

England manager Roy Hodgson believes Wayne Rooney deserves extra praise for reaching 100 international caps because of the way he has dealt with criticism during a particularly "turbulent" career.

Rooney is set to become England's ninth centurion on Saturday when he leads the team out to face Slovenia in a European Championship qualifier at Wembley.

Rooney, whose children Kai and Klay will accompany him on to the pitch, has had a roller coaster of a career with England ever since he made his debut in the 3-1 defeat to Australia 11 years ago.

The 29-year-old announced himself at Euro 2004, but he has struggled to hit those heights since and disciplinary issues have tarnished the striker's reputation on occasion too.

Rooney has scored four goals in 10 England matches in 2014 © Getty Images

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"I think that he has had a turbulent career in many ways,'' Hodgson told BBC Radio 5 Live. "He burst on to the scene as the wonder kid at 19. He was the saviour of English football.

"And he has had to suffer the slings and arrows because of the times when, of course, he has not been able to be the saviour of English football and people have criticised him for it.

"Having built him up to a very high level they have worked very hard to knock him right back down again. I think that has given him an incredible maturity and mental strength that we will need going forward. That's a harder thing to teach or to inculcate in the squad than tactics or technique."

Rooney caused outrage at the 2006 World Cup when he was sent off for a stamp on Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho. Four years later, he lashed out at the England fans who booed the team off following their dire 0-0 draw against Algeria.

And the Manchester United forward was suspended for the first two games of Euro 2012 when he kicked out at defender Miodrag Dzudovic during a crucial qualifier in Montenegro.

In fact, Rooney is a sensitive leader, according to the England manager.

"He is a very caring captain," Hodgson said of Rooney, who will be presented with a golden cap by Sir Bobby Charlton before kick-off on Saturday. "He is very good in making certain that everyone is comfortable and satisfied and that there are no problems within the group.

"That's important to me and the coaching staff because you don't always pick those things up. It's good to have that liaison with a man who is so close to the team and his players and who can communicate. He has taken the captaincy unbelievably seriously.

Hodgson said Rooney's progress with England had been "steady'' since he scored four goals in Euro 2004, but rejected the claim he had under-achieved because he has not won anything with the national side.

"What you have to take into account with Wayne is that he is going to have played 100 games at the age of 29," Hodgson added. "He is the top goalscorer in the English team and he is only a few goals [six] away from Sir Bobby Charlton's all-time record. I think that has got to be a better measure of his success."

Rooney was criticised for his form at this year's World Cup, but Hodgson does not believe the forward is on the decline.

"I think he will [get better],'' Hodgson said. "He is a consistent performer and someone who regards playing for his country as something of vital importance."

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