More than one break in Rooney’s foot

LONDON: 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 that he had more than one fracture,” said Eriksson. “I don’t know what that means but I’m not that pessimistic. Miracles happen in life now and then, but I don’t really know.”

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 of being fit for any part of the World Cup finals, the striker will be named in the squad on Monday.

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.