England striker Wayne Rooney has been passed fit to take part in the World Cup finals in Germany, the BBC said on Wednesday.
BADEN BADEN (Germany): England striker Wayne Rooney has been passed fit to take part in the World Cup finals in Germany, the BBC said on Wednesday.
A scan taken earlier in the day at a hospital in Manchester in northern England cleared him to play although he is not expected to take part until the latter stages if England get that far.
Rooney was flying back in a private jet to rejoin the England squad at their base at Baden-Baden in southwest Germany on Wednesday evening, British media reported.
The 20-year-old, widely regarded as key to England's hopes, broke his foot on April 29 in a Premier League match for his club Manchester United against champions Chelsea.
Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has maintained that Rooney's fitness and willpower will enable him to play his part in a campaign which starts on Saturday against Paraguay.
“I've always said I think he will be available, that he will take part in the World Cup and I still believe it very, very strongly,” Eriksson told reporters before the scan.
His optimism reflected the sight of Rooney beginning Tuesday's training session with the rest of the squad before peeling off to continue his rehabilitation in the glare of the world's media.
Even the England team mates who want him back were keen to put his injury saga to one side.
Defender Gary Neville, one of the elder statesmen, said, “We haven't got him for Saturday, I know that, so that's all we've got to concentrate on and focus our minds on.
“I know there's a great interest in Wayne Rooney throughout the country and that's not going to stop.
“But it really is important we focus on Paraguay as a team and not focus on players who aren't there and can't play.”
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