WATFORD, England, May 22: England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson says he is confident that injured striker Wayne Rooney will recover in time for the World Cup.
Eriksson, who said the 20-year-old Manchester United forward also believes he will be fit for the finals, is waiting for the results of a scan on Rooney's broken foot on Thursday.
''On Friday, we will know much better how the situation is,'' Eriksson told reporters today. ''But I've always been very positive -- maybe more with my heart than my head.
''I'm quite sure that at some stage during the World Cup Wayne Rooney will be ready, I strongly believe that.
''We are in regular contact with him and of course the doctors and we know he works very, very hard -- doing everything possible and it's not a surprise.
''Rooney is desperate to play the World Cup. I spoke to him last week...and he thinks he will be okay.'' For the moment, Rooney's place alongside Michael Owen up front will go to Peter Crouch - starting with Thursday's 'B' international against Belarus.
Asked if Owen and Crouch would also start the subsequent friendlies against Hungary and Jamaica in preparation for their World Cup opener on June 10 against Paraguay, Eriksson said: ''If you give me that question on Friday morning I will answer it.
There's a scan on Thursday.'' The Swede is particularly impressed by the form of his previous injury worry, Owen, who has only played once since breaking a bone in his foot on December 31.
Looking back at their training camp in Portugal, Eriksson said: ''I'm very, very happy with what I saw last week.
''He trained excellently and when we played he was absolutely on fire. I don't think I've seen Michael Owen in such good shape for many years.'' Eriksson also said he will use three of his youngsters against Belarus, notably 17-year-old forward Theo Walcott, who has yet to play for Arsenal since joining them in January.
Asked about Walcott, Eriksson said: ''Maybe he will not start but the plan is that he would come on at some stage during the game.'' He added that left winger Stewart Downing and right winger Aaron Lennon would probably start the game at Reading.
England's other rivals in Group B at the finals are Trinidad and Tobago and Sweden.
Reuters
Eriksson, who said the 20-year-old Manchester United forward also believes he will be fit for the finals, is waiting for the results of a scan on Rooney's broken foot on Thursday.
''On Friday, we will know much better how the situation is,'' Eriksson told reporters today. ''But I've always been very positive -- maybe more with my heart than my head.
''I'm quite sure that at some stage during the World Cup Wayne Rooney will be ready, I strongly believe that.
''We are in regular contact with him and of course the doctors and we know he works very, very hard -- doing everything possible and it's not a surprise.
''Rooney is desperate to play the World Cup. I spoke to him last week...and he thinks he will be okay.'' For the moment, Rooney's place alongside Michael Owen up front will go to Peter Crouch - starting with Thursday's 'B' international against Belarus.
Asked if Owen and Crouch would also start the subsequent friendlies against Hungary and Jamaica in preparation for their World Cup opener on June 10 against Paraguay, Eriksson said: ''If you give me that question on Friday morning I will answer it.
There's a scan on Thursday.'' The Swede is particularly impressed by the form of his previous injury worry, Owen, who has only played once since breaking a bone in his foot on December 31.
Looking back at their training camp in Portugal, Eriksson said: ''I'm very, very happy with what I saw last week.
''He trained excellently and when we played he was absolutely on fire. I don't think I've seen Michael Owen in such good shape for many years.'' Eriksson also said he will use three of his youngsters against Belarus, notably 17-year-old forward Theo Walcott, who has yet to play for Arsenal since joining them in January.
Asked about Walcott, Eriksson said: ''Maybe he will not start but the plan is that he would come on at some stage during the game.'' He added that left winger Stewart Downing and right winger Aaron Lennon would probably start the game at Reading.
England's other rivals in Group B at the finals are Trinidad and Tobago and Sweden.
Reuters
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