Wayne Rooney may be crushed by the three-match ban that has ruled him out of all of England's group games at Euro 2012.
But Rooney must channel all that anger and aggression at the perceived injustice of his suspension the right way in his next three games for Manchester United, which could arguably define their season.
After tonight's must-win Champions League tie in Bucharest against Otelul Galati, United host neighbours and title rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford on Sunday in the most eagerly-awaited game of the season.
And with Rooney certain to sit out the Carling Cup tie at Aldershot, his next big test will come in the form of a trip to former club Everton for the midday Premier League clash at Goodison Park on October 29.
While Sir Alex Ferguson deemed Rooney not to be in the right frame of mind to start last Saturday's 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Anfield, having taken badly his England suspension, it seems unlikely the United boss would leave his most influential player out of another trip to Merseyside.
Ferguson did leave Rooney out altogether for last season's visit to Everton, when the striker was beset by a myriad of on and off-field problems - bereft of form, hampered by a niggling injury, mired in a sex scandal and in the midst of an ill-advised contract stand-off that was about to become public.
But these next three games offer Rooney the chance to prove his enduring worth to United and show he has the maturity and discipline - qualities sadly lacking with his petulant kick in Montenegro which has had such far-reaching repercussions for him - to lead his side through games of huge significance.
It took a moment of brilliance from Rooney, in the form of an audacious overhead kick, to win last season's Manchester derby at Old Trafford, and United will need him to be at his very best on Sunday when the "noisy neighbours", as Fergie famously coined them, swagger in to the Theatre of Dreams with a two-point lead at the top of the table and every intention of extending that to five.
And with United having failed to win at Everton on their last three Premier League visits to Goodison Park, drawing two and losing once, Rooney must lead by example there and ensure he does not allow his famously short fuse to get the better of him against the backdrop of sustained abuse directed towards him.
Ferguson's astute man-management of Rooney at Anfield on Saturday, not bringing him on until the 69th minute, appeared to have the desired effect, the 25-year-old playing with controlled aggression and purpose, in a deeper-lying midfield role, when he was introduced.
"When Wayne came on he was quite bubbly," Ferguson said.
"He was full of energy and enthusiasm, desperate to get on, which is good because when he was watching the game he probably said, 'Christ, I could be out there'."
After seeing his hopes of playing at next summer's European Champions potentially dashed, Rooney must put that disappointment to one side and keep United on course for success in the Champions League and Premier League at such a crucial stage of both campaigns.
By David McDonnell
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