Rooney undergoes foot scan
2006-06-07 13:17
Baden-Baden - England striker Wayne Rooney returns to England on Wednesday for a medical scan which will determine if he'll play any part in the World Cup.
Rooney will have a scan on the fractured metatarsal in his right foot in Manchester, the home of his English Premier League club Manchester United.
England has until Friday to determine if Rooney should stay in the squad or be replaced by standby striker Jermain Defoe.
It is not known when - or if - Rooney will return to England's World Cup base near Baden-Baden, a spa town in southern Germany. The results of the scan may not be known until Thursday.
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson picked Rooney for his World Cup squad even though he broke his foot on April 29. The progress of his recovery has been closely followed ever since.
"I'm sure the doctor following him will phone as soon as he knows something," Eriksson said. "I look forward to the point where I don't have to discuss scans and Wayne Rooney's foot any more."
Eriksson has said he has always been hopeful Rooney will play at the World Cup. Boosting his claim was the sight of Rooney training with the England squad on Tuesday in Germany, practicing free kicks, taking part in sprint drills, and putting considerable pressure on his recovering broken foot.
The 20-year-old is one of England's most inspirational players. England is hoping that even if he misses the group B games against Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago and Sweden, he'll be available for future rounds - if the country qualifies.
- SAPA