Joe Cole backs Wayne Rooney to deliver at World Cup

Joe Cole has insisted that his former England teammate Wayne Rooney will deliver when it matters most at the World Cup.

Rooney has struggled to replicate his club form in his two previous World Cup appearances, but Cole believes that the Manchester United forward is still the right man for Roy Hodgson to count on in Brazil.

"Wayne Rooney is proven," Cole told talkSPORT. "He will break all goalscoring records with England.

"The class is there and I just think he's going to be the difference now. If a ball drops in the penalty box against Italy, there is no other man in England you would want it going to. He will come out and deliver this time."

Cole's latest move was confirmed on Tuesday when Aston Villa officially announced his arrival on a free transfer.