WAYNE ROONEY and Steven Gerrard will not allow frenzied speculation over their club futures to affect England's Euro 2004 campaign, insists assistant coach Steve McClaren.

Gerrard, 24, has been linked with a £30m move to Stamford Bridge, while wonderboy Rooney, 18, is said to be interesting Chelsea and Manchester United.

But ahead of tonight's Euro 2004 showdown with Croatia, where England only need a point to progress to the knockout stages, McClaren said both players have the maturity to concentrate fully on England.

The Middlesbrough boss said: "I don't think you can get away from the speculation or the headlines that Wayne has created over the past week with his performances. He's deserved that.

"There is always speculation, players have to live with that for 12 months of the year, and we've got players here who can handle that very well.

"The atmosphere in the camp is absolutely magnificent.

"They're purely focused on doing well in this tournament."

Eriksson, however, WILL allow new Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez to visit the team hotel this week to speak to Gerrard, Michael Owen and Jamie Carragher.

But the England coach added: "If agents wanted to come to talk to players about their futures, then I would be against it.

"Then again, I guess players with problems would be talking to their agents on the phone."