ENGLAND striker Wayne Rooney was last night said to be confident that claims he hit a student in a bar brawl will be dismissed.

Police confirmed yesterday they are examining CCTV footage of the alleged clash.

Patrick Hanrahan, 22, from the North-East, made a complaint against the Manchester United star following a supposed confrontation in the early hours of Tuesday, but is yet to formally press charges.

Police said they were unable to contact the student yesterday to take statements about his allegation that Rooney punched him three times in a Manchester nightclub.

Last night, Mr Hanrahan's father disputed claims his son provoked Rooney and denied he was a troublemaker.

Speaking from his semi-detached home in Eaglescliffe, father-of-four Brian Hanrahan said: "My son is a highly intelligent and articulate young man. It is inconceivable he would have provoked Rooney.

"It was his choice to go to the newspapers because he was shocked at what happened. He is a man capable of making his own decisions - but I know he did talk to his mother about it.

"He was just so shocked by Rooney's reaction. And I cannot believe that people around Rooney are actually denying Rooney attacked him. It is unbelievable."

Rooney is alleged to have lashed out after the Manchester University student goaded him. Mr Hanrahan told a newspaper Rooney struck him after he taunted the teenager about his controversial move from Everton to Manchester United.

He told The Sun the player went "absolutely crazy".

He said: "He landed three punches - two on top of my head and one on the right side of my forehead."

Rooney had been in Tiger Tiger, a nightclub and bar in Manchester city centre, at about 1am with United team-mates Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown and Roy Carroll when the confrontation is alleged to have taken place.

Rooney's spokesman has dismissed the allegations and said his client had not responded to provocation.

Sources close to the player said he is confident that CCTV pictures will prove his version of events and confirmed he had the backing of his club and national team.

A spokesman for Rooney said: "The claims of Mr Hanrahan come straight out of the realms of fantasy.

"Wayne has taken this completely in his stride, he won't let it affect his football."

Warning for Rooney - Back Pag