Wayne Rooney worked out separately from his England teammates on Tuesday at their idyllic Black Forest training camp amid a surge of optimism that he could be fit for the World Cup.
Pictures of Rooney unleashing a flying scissor-kick with his injured right foot dominated British newspapers, triggering speculation that the Manchester United star might yet be given the all-clear to stay with the squad.
The 20-year-old striker has not played since breaking a metatarsal bone in his foot on April 29, and faces a crucial scan in Manchester on Wednesday that will decide whether he remains in the England squad or is replaced.
On Tuesday, Rooney warmed up with his teammates at England’s impressive Mittelberg facility before training alone under the watchful eye of medical staff. He did light ball work as well as some sprinting and jogging.
Arsenal fullback Ashley Cole and captain David Beckham, nursing thigh and ankle knocks respectively, took a limited part in the team training.
But with just four days to go until England’s opening Group B match against Paraguay in Frankfurt on Saturday, all the injury buzz surrounds Rooney.
British newspapers agreed that the photographs of the side’s most important player — taken before England flew out to Germany on Monday afternoon — would give supporters of the 1966 world champions a welcome boost.
”There is a God,” said mass-market tabloid The Sun, which, like other newspapers, carried the image of Rooney, in full-flight, belting the ball, on its front page.
”Rootiful!” said the Daily Mirror, ”Wayne’s Metatarsal Miracle”, headlined the Daily Mail, while the Daily Star went with ”The World at Our Feet” and ”The picture the whole country has been waiting to see”.
The newspapers noted that Rooney appeared to suffer no reaction after being put through his paces by England team physiotherapist Gary Lewin.
Several newspapers quoted unnamed sources in the England camp as saying Rooney may even be on the bench for the team’s final group game against Sweden on June 20, though the later knockout rounds are a more realistic target.
The broadsheet The Daily Telegraph and The Times were more cautious in their approach, noting that only Wednesday’s scan can determine if Rooney is fit.
The Sun claimed, however, that Alex Ferguson was furious at learning of Rooney’s exploits, without quoting the Manchester United manager directly.
Ferguson has reportedly been concerned about his young prodigy suffering a long-term injury if he is brought back into action too soon. — AFP
