According to England coach, Sven-Goran Eriksson, Wayne Rooney has made a full recovery and is ‘injury free’. All he needs to do is get his fitness back up to match level and he is ready to play in the World Cup matches. Rooney had a scan on his foot yesterday.
On April 29 Rooney broke the fourth metatarsal on his right foot, following a tackle during a match between his team, Manchester United, and Chelsea.
Amid a flurry of different opinions regarding Rooney’s best interests, Eriksson said that whatever he does will be in the interests of Rooney, the England team and 40 million English fans. Although he is prepared to listen to people’s views, Eriksson was adamant that the final say will be his and Rooney’s.
Bobby Charlton, on a BBC Radio Five Live show, said that if there were any chance at all it could be detrimental for Rooney if he is played too early, this would not be right for him. Bobby Charlton played in the England squad that won the 1966 World Cup, he also played for Manchester United. Charlton said there was indecision among medical people regarding Rooney.
Charlton was adamant that medical professionals should make the decision on whether or not he plays, not Rooney or the management. He added that he wanted the lad to play for England, but he did not want him to take any risks.
Rooney’s club, Manchester United, said he should be fit to play after the group stage of the World Cup tournament. The club went on to say that even then, a careful assessment of the player would have to be made.
Eriksson said that when Rooney is match fit he is prepared to take in any specialist, including a Manchester United one.
David Beckham, England captain, said Rooney’s fitness ‘is up with the rest of us.’ He added that whether or not Rooney played is a management decision.
If England makes it through the group matches, Rooney will have a couple more weeks before he may have to play. The first post-group match should be on 24th or 25th of June.
Pictures of Rooney in his last training session show him limping. Anyone who knows anything about orthopedics will tell you that this is not good news – no matter how positive the findings of the scan were.
Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today