England optimistic Rooney will play
(AP)
Updated: 2006-05-23 08:58
WATFORD, England - England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is
"very positive" Wayne Rooney will be ready for the World Cup.
England and Manchester United footballer Wayne
Rooney and girl friend Coleen McLoughlin arrive at David Beckham's house
in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England for a pre soccer World Cup party
with a theme 'Full Length and Fabulous', Sunday, May 21,
1006.[AP] |
Eriksson even hinted Rooney might be able to go in England's opening game
against Paraguay on June 10. He said he'd know more after the Manchester United
striker had another scan Thursday on his broken foot.
"I've always been very positive — maybe more with my heart than with my head
— and I'm quite sure Wayne Rooney will at some stage during the World Cup be
ready," Eriksson said Monday. "I strongly believe that, but on Friday we will
know much better."
England team doctor Leif Sward said Rooney was making a "perfect recovery."
Rooney broke a bone in his right foot April 29 while playing for United.
The 20-year-old Rooney has been riding a bicycle and spending time in an
oxygen chamber to speed up recovery, but hasn't kicked a ball yet.
"He is not allowed to do that or anything else that could make his foot worse
before Thursday's examination," Sward told The Sun newspaper in Monday's
editions. "But he can put pressure on his foot now with the special protection
he is wearing."
Eriksson said Rooney was working "very, very hard doing everything possible"
to recover.
"He thinks he'll be OK," Eriksson said.
England plays a 'B' international Thursday against Belarus and Eriksson said
he would start Michael Owen and Peter Crouch up front and give 17-year-old
rookie Theo Walcott a run later in the game.
Owen has only played 30 minutes this year after breaking a bone in his foot
Dec. 31. The Newcastle striker has said he's fully fit, despite the lack of
match practice.
England plays Hungary and Jamaica in its final two World Cup tuneups in
Manchester next week before traveling to Germany on June 4. Its other World Cup
group games are against Trinidad and Tobago on June 15 and Sweden on June 20.
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