By Phil McNulty Chief football writer

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson had not even fixed his gaze on Wayne Rooney in a training session - but had already seen enough.

Everton's brilliant 17-year-old is a member of the select band of Premier League stars yet to be witnessed in the flesh by the all-seeing eye of the England coach.

Indeed Eriksson's mission to watch Rooney in action at Charlton on Saturday was wasted as he left before the youngster made a late cameo appearance as substitute.

ENGLAND'S YOUNGEST

WAYNE ROONEY? (Would be 17 years 111 days) James Prinsep 17 years 253 days Thurston Rostron 17 years 312 days Clement Mitchell 18 years 24 days Michael Owen 18 years 59 days Duncan Edwards 18 years 184 days James Brown 18 years 211 days Arthur Brown 18 years 330 days Rio Ferdinand 19 years 8 days Tommy Lawton 19 years 16 days

Full Rooney profile

But a series of glowing references, and the grapevine gossip that has labelled Rooney as the greatest talent England has produced since Paul Gascoigne, swept any doubts from Eriksson's mind.

Now Rooney will be the youngest player in England history when he makes his debut against Australia at Upton Park.

And while his introduction may be as part of an experiment, this is a player who will be a huge part of England's long-term future.

Rooney has made just six starts for Everton, but his brutal combination of power, pace and raw talent has already turned him into a phenomenon.

He may be included as a member of a patchwork squad put together by Eriksson with a nod as much to maintaining public interest as an update on the talent at his disposal.

Untamed talent

But in Rooney's case, no-one should bet against this most mercurial talent producing something that makes a case for his inclusion when the European Championship action starts again.

Everton had tried to contain their excitement about a player widely regarded as the finest ever produced by the club - only to find their cover blown when he opened his Premiership account with a last-minute 30-yarder that ended Arsenal's unbeaten start to the season in September.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger's declaration that Rooney was the finest young player he had seen since arriving in England meant the secret was officially out.

The word on Rooney had been out inside Everton for a long time.

Former boss Walter Smith used to make special trips to watch any academy team Rooney played for - and others whispered comparisons with Kenny Dalglish "only more powerful and quicker".

Will Wayne solve Eriksson's problems up front?

Eriksson has no qualms about Rooney's talent, making his age almost a side-issue.

And he is best placed among England's rookies to make a case for a permanent place in the squad when the experiments end.

Eriksson still favours Emile Heskey as Michael Owen's natural striker partner, but Rooney's ability to clear any football hurdle placed in front of him means he is good enough now to stake his claim to partner his Liverpool counterpart.

It is the attacking dream ticket that has long been the talk of Merseyside.

Rooney is a natural and untamed talent.

He is only unnerved when faced by television cameras, and flourishes in a football world that lies at his feet.

And on Wednesday, Rooney may provide more than a tantalising glimpse into England's future - he could also be the boy for the present.