The motivation for Rooney to challenge Sir Alex Ferguson by contradicting the Manchester United manager’s claims about his fitness is something only the 24 year-old can disclose.
But Rooney will do well to recall the bitter experience of his close friend, Ricky Hatton, who lulled himself into believing he could outfox the more streetwise talents of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao before twice finding himself on the wrong end of a comprehensive defeat.
