England legend Paul Gascoigne has warned the nation not to pile too much expectation on Wayne Rooney's relatively young shoulders when the World Cup finals come around next Summer.

Gascoigne, 42, knows what it is like going to a World Cup as one of the younger players and with the expectations of a nation around his neck, having played in Italia '90 as a 23-year-old during his Tottenham Hotspur pomp.

Many fans and pundits alike have ventured that England's chances of progressing far into the latter stages of next year's tournament lay solely with a fit and in-form Wayne Rooney leading the Three Lions' attack.

The very fact that, while Fabio Capello has asserted that he will take four strikers to South Africa, but that only Rooney is assured of his place on the plane, demonstrates how crucial the 24-year-old is to England's plans.

Rooney has plenty of tournament experience, but never before has he been the pivot of England's plans as much as he is now.

"I was one of the most fortunate players in the world because I was 23 and Peter Beardsley, Bryan Robson and the rest of the team were all in their prime." Gascoigne told The Daily Mail.

"The help I got from them was fantastic, and they took the pressure off me so I could go out there and really enjoy it.

"With Rooney, everyone is expecting him to go out and win the World Cup for England."