England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said on Wednesday that striker Wayne Rooney had more than one break in his foot and would probably need a ”miracle” to be fit for the World Cup.
Eriksson added that he planned to name Rooney in his provisional 23-man squad on Monday, a week before the official Fifa deadline, and then keep his fingers firmly crossed.
He has been promised an update from Manchester United on Thursday.
”I knew yesterday [Tuesday] that he had more than one fracture. That’s what I heard,” said Eriksson. ”I don’t know what that means but I’m not that pessimistic. I’m born that way. Miracles happen in life now and then, but I don’t really know.”
When pressed on whether Rooney now needs a miracle, Eriksson said: ”Maybe.”
Rooney broke a bone in his foot on Saturday but has refused to give up hope of playing some part in England’s World Cup campaign, despite the scepticism of his Manchester United boss, Sir Alex Ferguson.
It will be at least six weeks before he can play again, effectively ruling him out of at least the opening stages in Germany.
England team doctor Leif Sward will go to Manchester on Thursday to speak to Manchester United doctor Mike Stone and discuss Rooney’s injury and his World Cup chances.
Unless Eriksson is told Rooney has no chance at all of being fit for any part of the World Cup finals, the Manchester United striker will be named in the squad on Monday.
”I will probably name him on Monday. It will be 26, maybe 27 players. Three or four of those players will know they are reserves.
”I will not rule him out until the doctors tell me there is no chance. No one wants that to happen. Everyone hopes he can take part in the World Cup at some stage.”
On Monday night, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson hit out at Eriksson’s optimism, claiming the England boss was peddling a ”wild dream”.
But the pair spoke on Tuesday and agreed Rooney would stay in Manchester until he was fit to play, rather than join up with the England squad on May 15.
Eriksson said: ”We had a long chat about Rooney and the fact that he is going to stay in Manchester. I might pick him but he is going to stay in Manchester to do all the recovery until he is football fit. I think that’s fair. He is staying at home and working with the physios and masseurs in Manchester. Nobody knows when he will start running. Nobody knows today [Wednesday].”
Manchester United issued a statement later on Wednesday refuting reports that suggested Rooney was definitely out of the World Cup.
”Despite stories in the press we believe Wayne is still six weeks away from full training,” the club said. ”We are not prepared to discuss anything specific in relation to his injury or his rehabilitation.”
There was better news for Eriksson about Michael Owen, who suffered discomfort on his return from a broken foot on Saturday.
”I am quite sure Michael will be fit,” the Swede said. — AFP
