Rooney vows to retain aggression

Rooney had a running physical battle against Stoke on Boxing Day

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has defended his aggressive style of play and insisted he will remain the same throughout his career.

"I don't think there is a problem with my temperament," said the 23-year-old.

"I do get stuck in during matches, but I like to think that I keep calm both on the pitch and off it.

"I am a player with lots of energy and aggression and I am never going to stop putting in tackles... That's who I am. I can't change that, I don't want to."

The England striker has sometimes fallen foul of referees during his career, with four red cards testimony to an occasional lack of discipline.

High-profile dismissals like his sending-off for stamping against Portugal in the 2006 World Cup quarter-final have seen Rooney receive an unwanted reputation, and two recent incidents have reopened the debate.

606: DEBATE Is Rooney right to defend his style?

A swipe at Abdoulaye Faye in United's 1-0 defeat of Stoke on Boxing Day was missed by referee Chris Foy, but incensed the player.

Rooney also came under fire earlier this month in the Champions League clash with Aalborg when he was accused of stamping on opponent Kasper Risgard.

But, despite often widespread criticism of his temper, Rooney insists he does not have a problem.

"I don't accept that I need to learn to count to 10 in certain situations because I always feel in control of myself," he said.

"I get the feeling sometimes that people just look for the negative things with me.

"[But] I think my team-mates and United's supporters appreciate that [combative] side of my game.

People forget that I am still quite young Wayne Rooney

"Sometimes it gives them a lift to see me flying into tackles and trying to win the ball."

Rooney, who has amassed five yellow cards so far this season, admits that he does occasionally "step over the line" but thinks he has grown up quickly in the spotlight of playing for United and England.

"I know some people were looking to blame me for the incident against Aalborg," he said.

"All I can say is that it was right that Uefa didn't take any action against me.

"I wasn't being aggressive. I didn't mean to stamp on the fella and it was right that no punishment was handed down.

"People forget that I am still quite young. I have been under the spotlight ever since I broke into the Everton first team at 16.

"Even then there was a tendency to try and find some fault with my temperament rather than concentrate on what I was bringing to the game.

"That's sad, but I suppose it is part of football."