Wayne Rooney’s injury may not be bad enough to keep him out of World Cup

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, who injured his ankle in his club’s Champions League game against Bayern Munich on Tuesday, has been ruled out of action for a month.

Though that means that he will not kick another ball for United this season, fears of his non-availibity for this summer’s World Cup in South Africa, appear to have been discounted.

Rooney had limped off in agony after a challenge by Bayern striker Mario Gomez in the final seconds of United’s Champions League defeat.

According to reports, the 24-year-old hobbled away from the Allianz Arena on crutches with his ankle in a protective plastic cast.

The injury means that Rooney will also miss the crucial return match against Bayern next Wednesday, with United already trailing 2-1 after Ivica Olic’s dramatic late winner.

Rooney will fly back to Manchester with his team-mates before being ferried away for a private MRI scan on the right ankle ligaments, The Mirror reports.
 
It is the 12th significant foot or ankle injury the striker has suffered in his career - and there are already growing concerns over a knee problem he is carrying.