WAYNE Rooney is a ‘street fighter’ and would be a prized asset for any team in the world, according to former Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy.

The England striker has found his temperament questioned again, after referee Jeff Selogilwe claimed he was insulted by Rooney during Monday’s 3-0 World Cup warm-up win over the Platinum Stars.

The official warned the 24-year-old would risk getting a red card if he behaves in a similar way when the tournament gets under way against the United States in Rustenburg on Saturday.

Rooney was sent off against Portugal in the 2006 World Cup, but has since shown a much more mature side to his game on a consistent basis.

However, Wolves boss McCarthy, who guided the Republic of Ireland through to the knockout stages of the 2002 World Cup in the Far East, feels such a temperament makes Rooney the special player he is.

McCarthy believes with Rooney firing on all cylinders, England can make a big impact at the World Cup “Rooney has a great temperament,” said McCarthy.

“He is fabulous and we would all want him in our teams.

“You cannot play the way he does, and work as hard as he does without having that little something, that aggression, that street fighter – and I love him for it.

“Players like Rooney are competitors, when he does something which is a bit not right, people are critical of him.”

McCarthy added: “Rooney is hugely important to England.

“Earlier on in the season, he was awesome for Manchester United.

“I remember being sat in the directors’ box at Old Trafford and applauding when he flicked one up and volleyed it to the other side of the pitch, where the ball went straight to Valencia, and I was gobsmacked.

“It was wonderful.”

McCarthy will be in South Africa as a BBC pundit, and believes Fabio Capello’s men can progress through to the last eight, when it will then all come down to mental strength.

“England will make it through to the quarter finals, and after that it is who has that belief when you are playing the top sides that they can overcome them,” said the Yorkshire-born manager.

The Wolves boss is tipping Ivory Coast – now under the guidance of former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson – as dark horses.

“Sven just has something and could get them going,” said McCarthy.

“Whether Didier Drogba can get fit is a big thing, but with the likes of Dindane, the Toure brothers and Eboue, they have some good players.

“It is being played in Africa, so I know they are in a group with Portugal, but I really think the Ivory Coast can go through.”