MANCHESTER, England - England striker Wayne Rooney was cleared to rejoin his
country's World Cup squad after having his broken right foot examined, FIFA's
Web site reported Wednesday.
England's Wayne Rooney leaves at a private
hospital with his agent Paul Streford, left, in Whalley Range in
Manchester, England, Wednesday June 7, 2006, after flying back from
Germany for a scan on his injured right foot. The medical scan should
determine whether he'll play any part in the upcoming soccer World Cup in
Germany.[AP] |
Rooney boarded a flight to return to Germany on Wednesday evening after
having scans on the foot, which he broke on April 29.
There was no official confirmation from either the English Football
Association or his club, Manchester United, about the results of the scans on
his metatarsal bone which took place at an exclusive hospital. But the
20-year-old striker was all smiles as he left the hospital, the British Press
Association reported.
Rooney was accompanied by England team doctor Leif Sward and Football
Association executive director David Davies.
A handful of fans chanted Rooney's name and "England! England!" as his silver
van was driven through the hospital gates.
Manchester United team doctor Tony Gill and physiotherapist Rob Swire were
scheduled to join Rooney at the hospital.
Rooney, wearing a blue England polo shirt and sweat pants, left the hospital
15 minutes later after the scan. Without making any comment, he got into a
silver Mercedes and was driven to an undisclosed location to await test results.
England has until Friday to determine if Rooney should stay on the squad or
be replaced by 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.
Rooney broke his foot in Manchester United's game against Chelsea on April
29. The progress of his recovery has drawn national headlines ever since.
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has always been hopeful Rooney will play at
the World Cup.
"A player of Wayne Rooney's quality would get into any team in the world,"
England midfielder Frank Lampard said in Germany. "So we want him to be fit and
we hope he is."
Teammate John Terry said he was hopeful Rooney could play, but was prepared
for the worst.
"It will be a disappointment, obviously, but we'll press on and we'll have to
get on with it," Terry said. "The performances we showed back in England, I
think that's only encouraged us."
England beat Hungary 3-1 and Jamaica 6-0 in two warmup games before leaving
for Germany.
"I'm confident he will take part in the World Cup and he is 300 percent
confident that he will play," Eriksson said.
England is hoping that even if Rooney misses the Group B games against
Paraguay (on Saturday), Trinidad and Tobago (June 15) and Sweden (June 20),
he'll be available for future rounds — if the country advances.
Rooney trained with the England squad on Tuesday in Germany, practicing free
kicks, taking part in sprint drills, and putting considerable pressure on his
broken foot.
British sports minister Richard Caborn said Rooney's injury was receiving too
much attention.
"I think the media has gone a bit mad on it and it masks a little bit that we
are taking out the strongest squad probably that we ever sent out since 1966,"
Caborn told BBC Radio. "I still believe the squad that is going out there can
actually bring back the World Cup."
