Allegations 'won't affect Rooney'

Despite the lurid headlines in two Sunday newspapers, Rooney is set to travel to Switzerland for England's Euro qualifier.

Team-mate James Milner said he expects the striker to continue performing for the national side and Clifford said as long as he keeps scoring goals the fans will not care.

Clifford said: "The only thing Wayne Rooney has to worry about is his wife, whether she like all the others, is prepared to accept her husband's alleged infidelities.

"Nobody in football gives a monkey's as long as he's winning on the pitch.

"Man United fans love him. He could be a mass murderer as long as he's scoring goals.

"(England manager Fabio) Capello can't demote him because that would mean he couldn't play and the team needs him.

"Rival fans will have something else to shout about, but so what?"

Clifford said Rooney's sponsors were also likely to stick with the player, adding: "Will it stop people drinking Tiger Beer? No. Will it stop people buying Coca-Cola? No. Will it stop parents buying Nike for their children? No."

Earlier, a spokesman for electronic game firm EA Sports, one of Rooney's sponsors, said: "This is a personal matter and we respect Wayne and his family's privacy.

"We have worked together for six years and Wayne continues to represent EA Sports. We will be making no further comment at this time."

Clifford continued: "It's almost expected that if you are a Premier League football star you're going to be playing away.

"It's become a pantomime. It's a farce. It's as if it doesn't really matter."

A press conference ahead of England's Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland was dominated by questions about the allegations.

The News of the World said Rooney paid more than £1,000 ($1,687) a time to have sex with a prostitute while his wife Coleen was pregnant with their first child.

Manchester City midfielder Milner said it was business as usual for the squad on Sunday morning and Rooney took part in the full training session.

Asked about the Manchester United player's demeanour following the allegations, Milner said: "He is a top player, he showed that Friday. He trained fully this morning, that's all I can tell you.

"You're going to have to ask him the other questions."

He said it was important the team made sure matters off the pitch did not affect its performance on it, adding: "You have highs, you have lows, and it's down to us to make sure the only thing that matters is on the field, come together and make sure we get the result."

Asked about whether it was important for fans to like the players, Milner said: "It's important that we go out there and win football matches. That's what we're out here firstly to do.

"And control ourselves on the field and off the field as best we can."