Peter Crouch: 'Wayne Rooney is a world-class player'

Stoke City striker Peter Crouch has heaped praise on former international teammate Wayne Rooney after his record-breaking goal against Switzerland on Tuesday.

Rooney surpassed Sir Bobby Charlton as England's leading goalscorer at Wembley, slamming home a penalty to become the first player to find the net 50 times for the Three Lions.

Crouch, who played alongside Rooney at international level for five years, hailed the achievement as "incredible" and insists that the skipper is still a "world-class" talent.

"It's incredible. The fact he has stayed at the top for so long is the most amazing thing," he told talkSPORT.

"He is a class player. We have probably got two or three world-class players and he certainly came into that category when I was in the squad.

"He has got so much ability and it is not just the goals he brings to the team, it is the all-round performances as well."

Rooney will now turn his attention back to club matters, with his Manchester United side hosting arch rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford this weekend.