For a certain era of Premier League football, trying to keep Thierry Henry quiet for 90 minutes was about as stressful as it gets for any defender.

The former Arsenal icon combined blistering speed with devastating technique, making him a nightmare for even the strongest defences. This type of attacker has a special place in football folklore; adored by their own supporters, but feared by opponents whenever they received possession close to the penalty area.

Henry once discussed another forward who shared many of those qualities - an ex-England international who intimidated defenders through his direct, relentless and highly effective approach, while also earning plenty of admiration in Spain and France.

Henry Praised 'Extraordinary' Wayne Rooney

Writing in The Sun in 2015 (via Daily Mail), Henry praised Manchester United great Wayne Rooney for the remarkable consistency he had shown, while encouraging the emerging England players around him to learn from his example.

Rooney was approaching the latter stages of his Manchester United career at this point, before eventually adding an FA Cup, a League Cup and a Europa League to his collection before his time at Old Trafford finally came to a close.

Those trophies added further weight to an already outstanding Manchester career - one packed with individual honours and major team success. Rooney collected five Premier League titles, as well as a Champions League, and he remains the club's greatest ever goalscorer.

Rooney was 'Underappreciated' in England

Rooney's remarkable longevity may have worked against him in some respects. By the time he departed Manchester United at 31, he had spent more than a decade under intense scrutiny, giving supporters plenty of time to watch him develop from a fearless teenage sensation into an experienced leader and veteran.

That evolution was inevitable, yet it was not always properly recognised. Rooney remained highly effective, technically gifted and fiercely committed to football - he had simply moved beyond the explosive teenager supporters had first fallen in love with.

Former Welsh international Robbie Savage highlighted this in 2017 when discussing Rooney's physical decline and reduced playing time affecting perceptions of his career and legacy.

In the end, Henry's assessment proved to be remarkably accurate - appreciation did arrive, although it took time. Since retiring, Rooney has received much of the recognition his career warranted and now stands securely among the all-time greats in English football history.