England number two Tord Grip has admitted that they are devising a ”Plan B” for the World Cup after injuries to top strikers Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen.
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 Sven-Goran Eriksson’s team during at least the opening stages in Germany.
Rooney’s injury, coupled with lingering doubts over strike partner Michael Owen’s fitness, is threatening to seriously undermine England’s chances this summer and Eriksson’s assistant Grip told The Sun: ”It doesn’t look hopeful as far as Wayne is concerned. We’re working on Plan B now — but just how that plan looks, I really don’t know.
”Of course it’s serious when our top two forwards are both injured. The situation with Owen is not so bad and we are much more optimistic he will play. With Wayne we will have to wait and see — but it doesn’t look good at the moment.
”We will know more when our doctor, Leif Sward, meets United doctor Michael Stone for talks on Thursday.” — AFP
