James Milner has revealed how Wayne Rooney's rise to stardom made him determined to take his own game to the next level.

Both players burst on to the Premier League scene as 16-year-olds, having first crossed paths in an under-11s match between Leeds United and Everton.

Rooney soon became English football's hottest talent, making his England debut a year later before lighting up Euro 2004 at the age of 18.

The pair lined up together for England's World Cup opener against the USA last Saturday and both have important roles to play in South Africa this summer.

While Milner's route to the grandest stage was less direct, he says Rooney's meteoric rise fuelled his own determination.

"I think with Wayne Rooney, there was always going to be comparisons from the time I came through," he said.

"But then he just went to another level and in a way that probably helped me because of the limelight.

"He seemed to take it all off me and that helped me, in that there wasn't that pressure there.

"We see how good he is now but, even then, he went to that other level, pushed into the England squad and, in a way, that helped me."

When Milner made his breakthrough at Leeds, he briefly took the limelight from Rooney.

His strike in a 2-1 victory over Sunderland saw him surpass Rooney as the Premier League's youngest-ever goalscorer.

"It's quite mad thinking back," added Milner. "You are 16-years-old and three months earlier you are sat in a classroom.

"It's quite mad thinking back now, but, at the time you are just getting on with it and obviously you've got a million things going on.

"You want to play every game and I think I only started one game during the first season.

"You want to push into that team. You are playing for your home town club - something you've always wanted to do - so everything is a million miles-an-hour and you're just trying to concentrate on your football."

Praise for Milner's performances has flooded in over the past few months.

The 24-year-old has blossomed into Villa's midfield driving force, catching the eye of England boss Fabio Capello, who hailed him the Three Lions' most improved player.

But the Yorkshireman will not let the plaudits go to his head, nor will he take his England place for granted.

Milner started the 1-1 draw against the Americans in Rustenburg, but was still feeling the effects of a bug which ruled him out of training in the days leading up to the game.

He hopes to get the chance to shine in the other two group games against Algeria and Slovenia.

"Obviously it is nice to get complimentary comments from any manager and the England manager especially," Milner added.

"But then it is down to me to prove that what he said is correct.

"It is okay people saying good things about you but you have to make sure they are justified and it stays like that.

"It is always great getting praise from anybody, but it's about making sure you keep going, you knuckle down and you don't rest on your laurels, because football changes very quickly."

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