Wayne Rooney pleads with England fans not to destroy Jude Bellingham in echo of Sven’s warning about him 17 years ago

WAYNE ROONEY has pleaded with England fans: Don’t destroy Jude Bellingham.

Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate billed Real Madrid’s latest sensation as the “catalyst” for Euro 2024 glory.

But Birmingham boss Rooney insists Southgate, Real and England supporters have a duty to protect the 20-year-old midfielder.

He said: “Jude has the potential to be one of the best if not THE best in the world the way he’s going. So we have to really support him, because he’s a future captain of England.”

Roo’s warning comes after Jordan Henderson, Harry Maguire, Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling have all suffered fan abuse.

He added: “What Jude is doing is incredible and you have to pay him a load of respect for the way he’s come through and gone to the next level.

“What is important is that he will dip at some point and we don’t kill him when that happens — that we just get behind him and stick with him.

“He’s someone we really need to protect and really look forward to the future with him.

“He’s on a purple patch but that dip happens to all players and as a country we are too quick to get on players’ backs instead of giving them the chance to get out of a bad run of form.

“There is a lot of pressure playing for England so it’s important his coaches are around him.

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“He’s in the best form of his life but if he does have that dip, let’s all get behind him. Adversity happens and it will  happen with Jude, you’ve seen it with Marcus and Raheem.

“Let’s get behind all the other players — Maguire, who has had  a difficult time at  Manchester United.”

Bellingham’s game-changing performance, which included two assists in Tuesday night’s thrilling 3-1 win over Italy, booked England’s Euro 2024 spot.

It was just the latest red-hot display of the season for Bellingham, who has hit ten goals in ten matches since his £88.5million summer move from Borussia Dortmund to the Bernabeu.

Rooney, 37, had ups and downs during his 120-cap England career which saw him score 53 goals.

The new Blues chief, who takes charge for the first time against Middlesbrough tomorrow, added: “He has really impressed me with how he’s handled himself, how he speaks, how he is on the pitch, how he plays.

“He plays as a leader and what is he right now, 20? It’s difficult to blank all that noise out and especially when you are playing for Real Madrid.

“One bad game and they can be on you. Jude just has to keep doing what he’s doing and stay focused.”

Rooney’s comments echo Sven Goran-Eriksson’s own message from 17 years ago.

In his final press conference as England manager in 2006, the Swede urged fans not to make Rooney a scapegoat following his sending off in their World Cup quarter-final loss to Portugal.

“I think that you, much more than me, need Wayne Rooney,” Eriksson explained. “He is the golden boy of English football, so don’t kill him.

“If he did it with intention or not, leave it – you need him for the qualification games and to win Euro 2008. I have no hard feelings.”