Wayne Rooney’s injuries spark World Cup fears

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney’s domestic season is over, as he struggles to overcome two separate injuries just weeks before the World Cup.

Rooney missed Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Tottenham after damaging a gluteal muscle in his backside, and is also carrying an ankle injury suffered during the Champions League game against Bayern Munich.

Talking about Rooney’s injuries, manager Sir Alex Ferguson said, "It’s difficult to say when Rooney will be back. It will take two or three weeks to be honest."
 
“He’s desperate to play himself, but we will just wait and see,” News of The World quoted Ferguson, as saying.

According to reports, the England managerial team are concerned that they are not being kept fully in the loop by United regarding Rooney’s fitness and will swiftly seek some clarification of how serious the problem is.

England manager Fabio Capello, who is expected to name his provisional squad on May 11, will also have been concerned at the continued absence of his captain Rio Ferdinand.

The United defender has a groin problem, but has suffered all season with injuries related to a back problem.