Football: BIGGER THAN CANTON; Dowie's sure wonder Wayne can eclipse United's King Eric.

Byline: ALEX LOWE 

IAIN DOWIE believes Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney will become a bigger legend than the mercurial Eric Cantona - providing he curbs his fiery temperament.

Rooney heads to Selhurst Park tomorrow, the very ground where a decade ago Cantona launched himself kung-fu style into the crowd.

It was an assault that earned Cantona a nine-month ban and has overshadowed memories of a player whose audacious talent lit up the Premiership.

And while Rooney is also supremely gifted, the image he has managed to convey this season has been of a snarling, swearing, reckless teenager.

But Palace boss Dowie has praised the way Rooney controlled himself on his return to Goodison Park last week and believes his talent will see him eclipse the legacy of the man known at Old Trafford as 'King Eric'.

'I think that short fuse will change with Wayne. We all did things when we were 18 or 19,' said Dowie.

'But let's not expect 19-year-old boys to be any different than 19-year-old boys just because they are footballers. You have got to let people make mistakes. That is how they learn. Rooney is still young and Cantona came as an established player. 'Rooney is an outstanding player. He is a total footballer. There is nothing he can't do. It is scary what he can achieve in the game and he is only 19.

'Cantona had gravitas, that aura.

I think Rooney is a bit more down-to-earth but he can develop into that big, big personality.'

Dowie, who is close to Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, admits to being a huge admirer of Cantona's talent.

The Manchester United supporters still idolise the Frenchman and have declared tomorrow to be 'Cantona Day'.

Crystal Palace, though, have issued a statement warning United fans who plan to wear Cantona masks at Selhurst Park that they will be ejected from the ground.

Palace are keen to avoid anything that might stir up passions and four months after Cantona's kung-fu kick, a Palace supporter was fatally stabbed amid fighting between the two sets of fans before the FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park.

Dowie played in the infamous game 10 years ago and watched from the centre circle as Cantona attacked a Palace fan.

'The players didn't know what to do. You see the fellow run all the way down the stands, there is a reaction and bang it kicks off,' recalled Dowie.

'It was a frightening game. We were brilliant before he got sent off. It was a bizarre incident. Terrible, really. It was a sad day for football.

'I don't know quite what went on, what was said but he just hit the red mist and it is something he obviously regrets.

'It was a sad day for Eric but one that shouldn't be overshadowed by the fact he had a wonderful career and all the joy he brought.

'There haven't been too many better players in the league.

I played against him and at times he was mercurial.'

There have been very few incidents since Cantona's lunge to arouse anywhere near the same hysteria. Paolo di Canio and David Prutton both earned 10-game bans for laying their hands on officials.

Rio Ferdinand was suspended for nine months after missing a drugs test and Dowie feels Cantona's punishment would be far sterner if it occurred in the current climate.

'Do we judge a footballer different to a member of the public? We have role model and iconic status to deal with. There is no question that the moral responsibility is much higher now,' he said.

'I know Alex Ferguson felt Cantona was harshly treated at the time. At the time I probably agreed with that.

'Rio Ferdinand's example is classic for me. Rio got nine months for missing a drugs test. Two other lads had substances in their system and they got six months. 'It's a strange one for me

CAPTION(S):

Iain Dowie believes Eric Cantona's (left) brilliance could be surpassed by Wayne Rooney (right; United starlet Wayne Rooney