ROONEY BREAKS GOAL DROUGHT

Wayne Rooney scored his first international goal in a year to help England earn a 1-1 draw at the Netherlands yesterday in an international friendly.

Having rediscovered his best form for his club, Rooney showed he's back to his best in international colours and his first half strike, from an exquisite Joe Cole cross, was one of many magical moments from England's latest talisman.
Rooney got behind the Dutch defence in the 37th minute and kicked the ball into the net with his right heel. It was the Manchester United striker's first goal for England since scoring against Argentina in a friendly last November in Geneva.
Steve McClaren said he was pleased to see Rooney back in form for England.
"His performance was back to Wayne Rooney as we know him," McClaren said.
Rafael van der Vaart equalised for the Netherlands in the 86th minute, stabbing the ball in after a long throw from the left.
The draw will do little to take the pressure off McClaren, who has been under fire since his team lost to Croatia and drew with Macedonia in European Championship qualifying.

THIS is what happens if you mess with Wayne Rooney

Footballer Michael Gray is still sporting a painful black eye a week after he was punched by the furious England ace in a Manchester restaurant.
Rooney, 20, had dealt a single blow to Blackburn Rovers star Gray after he "repeatedly" asked for a threesome with his fiance Coleen McLoughlin.
Manchester United striker Roo, a promising boxer in his youth, astounded fellow diners by reportedly hitting loud-mouthed Gray in the left eye - without even leaving his seat.
Yesterday, Gray - who all week has been wearing dark shades to cover up the injury - looked glum as he watched his team draw with Sheffield United from the stands.
An onlooker said: "He didn't look happy and the bruise around his eye looked awful. Rooney obviously delivered a killer blow."

Wayne Rooney Will Be A Changed Man Says P Diddy

P'Diddy says he promises Wayne Rooney will be a "better footballer" after they spend a weekend partying together.Rooney paid a £20,000 charity pledge at David Beckham's World Cup party in May for a trip to New York City with the rapper.Combs is so determined to show Rooney a good time, he is convinced the sports star will return to England a changed man."I promise you when he comes back he'll be playing better football," he said."After he comes to New York, we'll probably be cousins. It'll be a non-stop party with lots of sexy ladies."

KLINSMANN: DON'T OVER-BURDEN ROONEY

Jurgen Klinsmann has warned England supporters not to place too much expectation on the shoulders of Wayne Rooney.

Germany coach Klinsmann, who may have to find a way to contain the Manchester United youngster, recognises Rooney as a fearsome talent but fears the 20-year-old may get over-burdened.
Klinsmann knows plenty about the difficulties of pressure himself having led the German line at three World Cups.
The former Tottenham striker told the League Managers Association website: "Wayne Rooney is, undoubtedly, one of the most talented young players in the world today.
"He has shown that he can perform exceptionally well on football's major stages as evidenced in Portugal at Euro 2004 and in many of his performances in the UEFA Champions League.
"Rooney is that rare player who appears to play by intuition and is able to change the course of a game with powerful runs, strong shooting and incisive passing.
"I hope that fans and the media do not burden him with the expectations of an entire country.
"He is surrounded by other established and accomplished players, who can and will, contribute to the team's performance."

ZICO JOINS THE ROONEY FAN CLUB

Former Brazilian star Zico has sung the praises of England striker Wayne Rooney and claimed: "He has the potential to be a legendary player."
Zico can even see some of the great Pele's qualities in the Manchester United forward, who turned in another five-star performance for his country in last night's World Cup qualifying victory over Poland at Old Trafford.
Zico said: "One of Pele's great qualities was that he could take any situation in his stride.
"From the little I have seen of Wayne, I think he can do that too. Great players always have the habit of being able to rise to the occasion.
"Like Pele used to, they puff out their chests and show the world who is in charge.
"I like Rooney's play very much. He is dangerous in front of goal but he is a good all-round footballer as well.
"He has the qualities I admire in a striker - pace, awareness and power.
"He is explosive too. He has the potential to be a legendary player."
Arsenal and French striker Thierry Henry has echoed Zico's sentiments, adding: "I have always said that Wayne Rooney is an amazing player, the kind of striker that any team in the world would like to have.

The England and Manchester United forward has been criticised for his petulant attitude and a lack of discipline which saw him sent off for his club last month and pick up unnecessary bookings at international level.
Questions remain over the 19-year-old's temperament and the debate continues to rage over whether his aggressive approach should be reined in but Blatter is in no doubt who should take responsibility for the teenager.
"When you play at the level he is playing he should be called to order," he said.
"Definitely his managers should be tougher on him. They should tell him 'You are so talented but keep [playing] in the right way'.
"This guy can go for 15 years but self-discipline and respect [is essential]."

UNITED ACE HUNGRY FOR GLORY

Wayne Rooney goes into the new season knowing that comparisons with footballing greats of the past will become valid only if he wins the biggest prizes.
The Manchester United striker was hailed as England's answer to Pele by Sir Bobby Charlton when he overcame injury to go to the World Cup this summer, while Sir Alex Ferguson has described him as the most talented player to emerge from the British Isles since George Best.
Rooney is both honoured and humbled to be placed in such hallowed company.
But while the 20-year-old Scouser's rise has been meteoric, it is medals rather than accolades that drive this genius - and he is aware that he must add to the solitary League Cup medal he won last season if he is to stand shoulder to shoulder with the giants of the game.
"I want to win everything - the Premiership, the Champions League and, yes, also the World Cup," said Rooney in an exclusive interview with Sunday Mirror Sport.
"It might not happen, but that's what my aim is. That's the reason why I'm in football".

"When the day comes for me to stop playing I want to be remembered as a winner. I want people to look back on my career and be impressed by the number of medals and trophies I have won.
"That's how I want to be remembered - as a player who won all the major trophies. It was unbelievable to hear the manager comparing me to George Best and Sir Bobby saying I can be like Pele.
"When our manager says something then you listen, while Sir Bobby was one of the game's true greats.
"It gives me a lot of confidence when people like that recognise my talents, but the only thing I am thinking about at the moment is to get even better and to become as good a player as possible.
"Hopefully, in 20 years' time, people will remember me the way we now remember the great players of the past.
"To do that I need to win things - the big competitions. That was why I joined Manchester United. Winning the Carling Cup last season was fantastic. It was great to win my first ever medal.
"But the medals that really matter at United are the Premiership and the Champions League. That's how it is at a club this size and hopefully we can achieve those things in the next few years."

Rooney's legal war for a web domain

England soccer star Wayne Rooney has decided to take television soap serial actor Huw Marshall to court to win ownership of the web domains WayneRooney.com. and WayneRooney.co.uk.
Thirty-seven-year-old Marshall had bought both domain names in April 2002, when Rooney was a 16-year-old rising star, and is now refusing to give them up.
According to The Sun, Rooney has taken the case to the United Nations’ World Intellectual Property Organisation in Geneva.

Forgiveness or revenge?

England’s one striker Rooney finds himself challenged heavily by two Portuguese players. Instead of going to the floor to win a free kick, Rooney tries to stay on his feet, but in the melée, appears to stamp on the groin of Ricardo Carvalho. Cristiano Ronaldo then appears to implore the referee to take action against his United team-mate. Rooney is then sent off and the rest, as they say, is history.
Back home from Germany, Rooney broke his silence to plead his innocence: "I want to say absolutely categorically that I did not intentionally put my foot down on Ricardo Carvalho."
He added that he was "disappointed" with Ronaldo - who put pressure on the referee to send him off – but promised not to hold a grudge.
"When the referee produced the red card I was amazed - gobsmacked. I bear noill feeling to Cristiano (Ronaldo) but I am disappointed he chose to getinvolved. I suppose I do though have to remember on that particular occasion wewere not team-mates."
But teammates they are in Manchester and although Ronaldo has been linked with a move to Real Madrid, the question now is:What will happen if or when Rooney and Ronaldo return to United for pre-season training? Will they kiss and make up? Or will Rooney’s revenge be a dish served cold in training?

Rooney offers olive branch to Ronaldo

Sir Alex Ferguson's hopes of brokering a truce between Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo have improved. Rooney has said he has forgiven his Manchester United team-mate for his role in the England striker's dismissal during the World Cup quarter-final defeat to Portugal.

Ronaldo's actions in encouraging Horacio Elizondo, the Argentine referee, to punish Rooney for his stamp on Ricardo Carvalho triggered speculation that pair's differences would be irreconcilable once they returned to their day jobs at Old Trafford.
But Rooney claimed that he extended an olive branch to the Portuguese immediately after England's ignominious exit, enhancing Ferguson's chances of persuading Ronaldo he has a future at United, despite the winger's apparent interest in a move to Real Madrid.
Rooney denied he had attempted to confront Ronaldo in the Portuguese dressing room after England had been defeated in a penalty shoot-out, and says he sent his United colleague a congratulatory text within hours of the final whistle.
"I was disappointed by Ronny [Ronaldo] trying to get me carded and I gave him a bit of a push in the chest," Rooney says in his autobiography My Story So Far. "But that was it. By the next morning I was no longer angry. It seemed that the papers were trying to stir it up, blaming him.
"They reported that, after the game, while I was still in our dressing room, I had tried to get into the Portuguese dressing room in order to hit Ronny. That's not true.
"On the way home after the game, I sent a text to Ronny. I told him to forget about what happened. Then I wished him and Portugal good luck in the semis and hoped they got to the final. And I meant it."
Faced with the prospect of building bridges between the two most talented members of his squad, United manager Ferguson will be grateful for Rooney's admission. It should go a long way towards dampening the antipathy felt towards the Portuguese in England.
Rooney is unrepentant about the incident that left Sven-Goran Eriksson's side with 10 men, claiming it was an accident.

World Cup: Striker Wayne Rooney fined, suspended

England striker Wayne Rooney was suspended for two competitive international matches and fined 5,000 Swiss francs (US$4,085) by a FIFA disciplinary panel that reviewed his ejection from England's World Cup quarter-final loss to Portugal.
Rooney was given a red card by referee Horacio Elizondo for stomping on Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho in the 62nd minute of the quarter-finals.
He denied it was intentional, saying he was "gobsmacked" by the charge, but a FIFA disciplinary committee on Saturday found him guilty of violent conduct. Rooney faced an automatic one-game suspension because of the straight red, but the committee doubled the punishment.
Rooney will be suspended for the first two of England's 12 qualifying matches for the 2008 European Championship. The short-tempered Manchester United forward has a history of ejections at the top level, dating back to December 2002 when -- aged 17 -- he was red-carded in a Premier League match for Everton.
England opens against Andorra (Sept. 2) and Macedonia (Sept. 6) -- the two lowest-ranked teams in a qualifying group also containing Croatia, Israel, Russia and Estonia.
"We believe the case has been dealt with fairly and we accept the decision," England's Football Association said in a statement. "We have no further comment to make."

Fancy a punch-up?

A south Cheshire boxing promoter is offering Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo the chance to settle their World Cup differences in the boxing ring - all for the good of charity!
Pat Brogan, who has more than 30 years' experience in the fight game, is offering the Manchester United team-mates - who clashed when Rooney was red-carded in the defeat to Portugal - £100,000 each to climb into the ring.
He said: 'That would be for four three-minute rounds in Manchester. They could wear 16oz gloves and headguards, so I'm sure neither would get seriously hurt.
'Friends of mine, Ryan Giggs and Max Beesley, are involved in a scan-ner appeal for a hospital, so they could have the proceeds.'
He claimed: 'It would do them good to settle their differences, shake hands afterwards and get on with it. It is the best way for them to sort it out, otherwise there will always be a bitterness between them.

Gary Neville said

The england team player, who is captain of Rooney and Ronaldo at United, said the England striker was heartbroken but would get over it.
"He is a colleague at club and international level and we hope the sending-off won't be as bad as it looks," he said.
"Whatever comes of it, and he is heartbroken, there will be people around him who will have been through it before.
"But tonight is not about about Wayne Rooney being sent off, it's about England being out of the World Cup."
It was a deja vu moment for England. It was leading 1-0 in the Euro 2004 quarter-final against Portugal when Rooney departed with a broken metatarsal, a game-turning injury in a match also lost on penalties.
Before the game Rooney had declared himself ready for anything Portugal's tough-tackling defence could throw at him, but it was the volatile 20-year-old who lost his head, plunging his team-mates into crisis.

Rooney red not my fault: Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo has denied he got Wayne Rooney sent off in an incident that put his Manchester United colleague among an infamous group of England players to see red in the World Cup.
Rooney let his fiery temperament get the better of him just when he needed to keep his cool, stamping on Ricardo Carvalho's testicles in the 62nd minute with yesterday's (AEST) quarter-final against Portugal poised at 0-0.
He made the matter worse by shoving Ronaldo after the Portuguese winger waded in to protest with the referee.
A stunned Rooney, who joined David Beckham and Ray Wilkins as the only England players to be sent off at the finals, was eventually led off fuming.
Beckham was given his marching orders against Argentina in the second round in 1998 by Danish referee Kim Milton Neilsen, while Wilkins was sent off against Morocco in 1986.
Down to 10 men, England battled on but lost on penalties with Ronaldo hammering the final nail into its coffin by converting the final spot kick.
Ronaldo denied he encouraged the referee to give Rooney his marching orders.
"People will say that the referee gave the red card because I spoke with him; this is not true. I spoke with him to say it was a foul, but I only said it was a foul, not a red card," Ronaldo said.
"I think the English press will say Rooney was sent off because of me but it is not true."
Ronaldo was seen winking at his bench after the incident but refused to comment on why.

Finally out of the game

Rooney was given a straight red card for violent conduct, for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho after a 50-50 tussle for the ball in the 62nd minute, the decision bringing into sharper focus England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson’s decision to select only four strikers in his squad.

Rooney, playing as England's lone striker, was shown a red card after Argentine referee Horacio Elizondo ruled the Manchester United player deliberately stamped on Ricardo Carvalho's groin. Cristiano Ronaldo, Rooney's club teammate, rushed to confront the referee after the foul.

England had the better chances in the second half in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, as Frank Lampard and Joe Cole blazed over the bar from inside the penalty area. England also had an appeal for a spot kick turned down in the 50th minute when Beckham chipped the ball against Nuno Valente's hand.
It was Beckham's last contribution as he was substituted for the 19-year-old Aaron Lennon. Moments later Beckham was in tears in the dugout feeling his right leg.
Portugal captain Luis Figo forced a diving save from goalkeeper Paul Robinson then, with eight minutes remaining, Lennon shot straight at Ricardo after the goalkeeper parried Lampard's free kick. In stoppage-time Terry's shot was deflected over the bar from the first of two late England corners.

Rooney minute by minute

4 mins: A quick pass into the right side of the Ecuador area from Frank Lampard almost gives the England striker a shooting chance, but the ball runs out of play.

14: Takes on Geovanny Espinoza on the right, and nearly forces his way clear into the box, but the ball cannons off the Manchester United striker and behind for a goal-kick.

15: Tries a delicate chip from the edge of the area but not enough height or weight to trouble Ecuador keeper Cristian Mora.

38: Rooney is forced to drop deep to pick up possession and start another England attack, which comes to nothing.

41: Hurtado gifts Rooney possession just outside the penalty area. The striker attempts to slip Steven Gerrard clear into the right side of the box, but Espinoza handles the ball during his sliding challenge - which is missed by Belgian referee Frank De Bleeckere.

42: Confronts the assistant referee after being adjudged to have fouled Hurtado as the pair chased a long ball from David Beckham.

57: Attempts to barge his way through a pair of Ecuador defenders into the penalty area, and is called up correctly for the foul.

70: Lampard's centre is just too far ahead of the advancing United striker as England, now 1-0 up, play their best football of the match.

73: Rooney produces a brilliant bit of skill to nutmeg Hurtado on the left by-line, before cutting inside and pulling the ball back for Lampard - who blazes his shoot high over the crossbar.

76: Collects a long pass forwards and charges towards the right side of the penalty area, where his shot is deflected and Mora has to make a smart low save.

81: Turns Hurtado inside out again, and this time his cutback towards Lampard in the six-yard box is cut out by the Ecuador keeper at full stretch.

England to quarter finals

David Beckham's superb free kick may have taken England through to the World Cup quarter finals, yet that was the only positive to come from a disappointing 1-0 win over Ecuador at Stuttgart's Gottlieb-Daimler stadion.Against a background of supporter riots in the lead up, England came out carrying the expectation they would atone for some underwhelming performances so far.On the other hand, Ecuador's unheralded team may have nervously entered the fray, yet, from the beginning, they took it to England and probably should have taken the lead during the first period when Ashley Cole managed to deflect Carlos Tenorio's shot onto the bar.Yet, after its most disappointing half so far, the Three Lions hit back on the hour when Beckham's exquisite free kick curled into goal.

The result takes England through to a quarter final clash with Portugal, yet some serious questions hang over the Three Lions and their now infamous manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.Going into the match, injuries to Michael Owen and Gary Neville had forced Eriksson to re-jig his side from its usual 4-4-2 formation to a 4-1-4-1.

England was further hampered by its poor possession and by Wayne Rooney operating as a lone striker, with the Manchester United man receiving some terrible service and looking uncomfortable without a forward partner.With Rooney, thereby unable to make his incisive runs, Ecuador's Ivan Hurtado came into his own, with the Tricolor skipper setting up his country's attacks.

There was still a couple of nervous moments for England as Paul Robinson was forced to dive full stretch to save a Luis Valencia effort, yet as Ecuador ran forward in an attempt to score, gaps opened up in its defence and for some brief moments England demonstrated its potential.Rooney, who played a full match, was suddenly finding his way through the backline with ease before setting up Frank Lampard twice.Lampard, who also had a poor day, may have missed his efforts, yet it could be a sign of things to come for English supporters who appear to be tiring of Eriksson's increasingly hollow reassurance that, 'We can play better'.

England look to Rooney against Ecuador

England will pin their World Cup hopes on some Wayne Rooney magic when they face Ecuador in Sunday's second round in Stuttgart.
Despite wins over Paraguay and Trinidad & Tobago, and a 2-2 draw with Sweden, England failed to show their real potential in a mediocre Group B campaign.
Rooney, who played 32 minutes against the Soca Warriors after breaking a bone in his foot in April and a further 69 against Sweden, has only given glimpses of his true ability.
With striker Michael Owen at home with a ruptured cruciate ligament and the knockout phase upon them, England need their best player to come good in a game that really counts.
Rooney has shown part of his repertoire with some nice passing and link-up play with the midfielders, but there has been little sign of his surging runs at defenders.
Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson will hope to have the 20-year-old in even better shape by Sunday as he prepares to pair him with Peter Crouch.
Eriksson could also do with midfielder Frank Lampard re-discovering his scoring boots. Having hit 20 for Chelsea last season and 10 for England in his previous 22 games, Lampard came to Germany as a proven marksman.

Ad shows painted, popular Rooney

Rooney, recovering from a broken bone in his right foot, missed England's opening match in the World Cup, but came on as a substitute to inspire the team to a 2-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday.
The Daily Star, one of three British papers paid to run the Nike ad, continued its long-standing tradition of printing photos of bare-breasted women on page 3 Tuesday, but they were upstaged by the two-page centerfold of the Rooney ad with Nike's slogan, "Just do it."
The ad, which also appeared on a 20-by-30 meter (66-by-99 foot) billboard in London alongside the M4 highway at midnight, shows Rooney cheering with his arms outstretched, as if he had just scored a goal.
A vertical line of red paint runs from his face to his belly button, and a horizontal one runs across his chest, from one outstretched arm and clenched fist to another.
The Independent newspaper carried a full-page photo and analysis of the Rooney billboard, calling it "as provocative a statement as the sports shoe manufacturer has produced."
The paper said, "It's the most graphic use of blood in an ad since Benetton's newborn baby" and suggested that the image "plays on the crucifixion."
But Caroline Small, a Nike spokeswoman in London, told The Associated Press that the ad was not intended to have religious connotations.

"Absolutely not. It's just a celebration of Wayne and the unique way he celebrates when he scores a goal, with his arms outstretched and his fists clenched. That suggested England's flag to us. It's not intended to have religious connotations at all," she said.
Small said the company has received no complaints about the ad, just telephone calls from fans who want copies of it.
Rooney, 20, who made his international debut in 2003, is the most exciting English football player to emerge for years, and the Manchester United star now competes with his world famous teammate David Beckham for the honor of being England's No. 1 player.

Rooney is ready and waiting for Swedish sqaud

The single crime of which England could not be convicted on Thursday was taking the opposition lightly. Anyone who supposes that Sven-Goran Eriksson kept Peter Crouch on the field because he guessed that the Liverpool striker would eventually get the opening goal against Trinidad & Tobago is mistaken. The managerial logic had followed a darker path when it was decided that Michael Owen be substituted instead.

Rooney could start against Sweden on Tuesday. "It's tempting," conceded Eriksson, who has a desire to see England beat his countrymen for the first time in 38 years. He will not give Crouch, Gerrard nor Lampard the evening off, though they are all one caution short of a suspension, having picked up yellow cards.
The disciplinary records are expected to be wiped clean after the group phase for those who do not have a ban to serve, but although England are already qualified for the last 16 they cannot afford to coast through any match. With Rooney short of peak condition, the remaining members of the squad must learn to bear the weight of their own ambitions.

Guess who's back?

Finally back form a broken foot, rooney played the last 32 minutes of England's 2-0 World Cup victory over Trinidad and Tobago. He didn't score or make any contribution to the late goals by Peter Crouch and Steven Gerrard that guaranteed England a place in the second round.

Rooney's first World Cup appearance lifted the confidence of the players and transformed England from a team of fumblers to a side that might get close to winning the title. Against a team of journeyman players, England failed to illustrate the huge gulf in ability.

When Rooney did enter the game, there was always danger when England attacked. He used his speed to chase through balls and ran at defenders, always threatening to shoot.
While Trinidad surrounded him with three markers, that left far more room for his team-mates to set up chances.

The fans tried to persuade coach Sven-Goran Eriksson with chants of "Rooney, Rooney." There had been daily speculation in the British papers whether the foot he broke against Chelsea on April 29 had healed enough to withstand tackles and his powerful shooting.
While the team warmed up on the field by jogging up and down, he couldn't resist breaking off and thumping the ball with his damaged right foot powerfully into the net. While the starting 11 kicked a ball around on the other side of the field, Rooney was pounding 35m passes across the field. As his team-mates left the field to get ready for kickoff, he stayed on to hammer shots from outside the box toward goal.
Rooney was saying: "I'm ready."

Now, Rooney is the man England must now turn to if World Cup glory is to return to the nation credited with inventing the game.
The return of Wayne Rooney sparks England recovery, sending them into 2nd round

Ready to fly!

Rooney will fly out to Germany with the rest of the squad on Monday before returning to Manchester 48 hours later to undergo the scan which will probably determine if he is fit enough for the finals.England coach Steve McClaren - who serves under manager Sven-Goran Eriksson this summer before taking full charge - declared it an encouraging sight to have Rooney back in light training."He has been working with the United physios all this week," McClaren said on Sky Sports News. "He's stepping things up, joining us on (the flight to Germany on) Monday and having the relevant scans, so things are progressing well."Of course, you never take things for granted in football and with the metatarsal especially. Hopefully the scans will be okay but you've seen the progress he's making. He's a confident lad and he wants to be there and he'll be doing everything possible to be there."While the news was encouraging about Rooney, the picture in the short term was less optimistic regarding full-back Gary Neville, although by no means is he doubtful for the World Cup.Neville was absent from training for the second day running with the hamstring injury sustained during the 3-1 victory over Hungary at Old Trafford on Tuesday.It is understood the injury needs a few more days to settle down and it will be a surprise if the 31-year-old is risked against the Jamaicans.But there is no serious concern about Neville being unavailable for the opening World Cup game with Paraguay on June 10.

Rooney up and running

Wayne Rooney has taken the first steps down the long road to proving his fitness for the World Cup finals.The Manchester United striker was spotted taking part in running, turning and ball work at Carrington ahead of England's final training session before tomorrow's clash with Jamaica at Old Trafford.Rooney was accompanied in his workout by two members of United's backroom staff and the session was halted once members of the media were allowed in to film the official training session.The fact Rooney is able to undertake such exercises will be a boost to Sven-Goran Eriksson before he has another scan on June 7.The 20-year-old has been sidelined since April 29, when he suffered a broken metatarsal injury to his right foot in United's 3-0 defeat at Chelsea.

Rooney's scan brought forward

Manchester United have brought forward England striker Wayne Rooney's next scan on his broken foot, warning the injury "involves a joint" and could take longer to heal than previously thought.
Originally scheduled for June 14, United and England have moved the scan to June 7 so that Rooney's fitness can be assessed before FIFA's June 9 deadline for replacing him in England's World Cup squad.
"Both parties agree that everything possible is being done to aid the recovery of the fracture, which involves the joint," United said in a statement.
"Following a meeting today between England's medical team and Manchester United's medical team, with both managers present, it has been agreed to obtain a further precautionary CT scan on June 7 in order for the England management to make a decision before the deadline of June 9."
Worryingly for England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and his hopes of taking the 20-year-old striker to Germany, United also said on its website that 'involving the joint' meant: "an injury which takes longer to heal."
Eriksson, though, sought to play down the implications of United's statement about the fourth metatarsal of Rooney's right foot.
The Swede, who said United may still do a further scan on June 14, told a news conference that the switch "was my request, United understood the situation and accepted it.
"We will have a little bit better idea of the future."
As for the development affecting Rooney's World Cup chances, he said: "I'm always positive about it, optmistic...I'm not worried.
"I don't think it's a change at all. I was in the medical meeting today and I don't think it's anything new."
Rooney, who suffered the injury during United's Premier League defeat at Chelsea on April 29, is an inspirational figure for Eriksson's side.
FIFA rules state that Eriksson can replace him in the squad up to 24 hours before their opening World Cup game in Group B against Paraguay on June 10.
Bringing forward the scan means that if Rooney were to be ruled out of the finals, he could be replaced by a standby player, probably Jermain Defoe though possibly Andy Johnson.
Eriksson said he might take a standby player to Germany when the squad leave next Monday.
The England manager has always hoped that although recovering from injury, Rooney might be fit in time for the latter stages of the finals - assuming England get through the group stage.
After the Paraguayans, England go on to face Trinidad and Tobago and Eriksson's native Sweden.
Rooney's absence from the finals would be a major blow to England's hopes of winning their first major trophy since the 1966 World Cup.

Ferdinand: England fine without Rooney

Defender Rio Ferdinand says England have the players to achieve World Cup success even if injured striker Wayne Rooney misses the finals.
Rooney's broken foot has dominated England's preparations for Germany and cast doubts on their chances of lifting the trophy for the first time since 1966.
Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, Ferdinand's team mates and the rest of the footballing nation are waiting for a scan Rooney will undergo on June 7 to see if he has a chance of playing any part in the tournament.
"At the moment, everyone is harping on about Wazza," Ferdinand told reporters on Tuesday, referring to Rooney. "In some respects rightly so because he's a fantastic player and an asset to the squad on and off the pitch."
But he added: "We feel as a squad, looking around the training field and the changing room, that we've got players who are more than capable of coming in and doing a fantastic job for the side. We definitely feel that."
Eriksson made it clear on Tuesday he was becoming fed up with the media circus surrounding Rooney's injury, though Ferdinand was more understanding.
"Wayne Rooney's a massive player and a massive story," said the Manchester United central defender, who should start at Old Trafford in Wednesday's friendly against Hungary.
"We know as players that that's going to be in the news and we respect that. But as a squad, it doesn't make us feel any less as players individually or collectively.
"When you look at this squad in detail, in terms of match winners, it has more than any I've been involved in before. We've got players who can drag a game by the scruff of the neck and win it for you at any time from normal play or a dead-ball situation.
"With Wayne that will be one extra, but without Wayne there's enough in there to do that."
Asked to name names, Ferdinand's first thought was Liverpool's talismanic captain Steven Gerrard, who scored two goals in their FA Cup final triumph over West Ham United earlier this month.
"Steven Gerrard - I was at the Cup final and it was great to see it was an Englishman who did it and that he's going to be in my squad when I go to the World Cup.
"Frank Lampard, 20 goals as a midfielder, you can't ask for much more, David Beckham and I haven't got to the forwards yet. Michael Owen - goalscorer, Joe Cole and Peter Crouch can score."
England will certainly need goals without Rooney as the 20-year-old striker is set to miss at least the Group B games, which start on June 11 against Paraguay.
United added to the worries of England fans on Monday by saying that Rooney's broken metatarsal involved the joint - "an injury which takes longer to heal."
Asked if the squad were reconciling themselves to Rooney missing the World Cup, Ferdinand said: "As a team we've just got confidence in the other players in the side.
"Wazza would be a great asset to any team in the world, we know that as individuals and as a team.
"We've got to wait on a medical decision. If he's going to be fit, he's going to be fit.
"But we've got to to prepare the squad to know that if he doesn't come, we're more than capable of going out there and doing a job for the country."

ROONEY OR NOT, ENGLAND A HOPE

PELE says England can reach the World Cup final even if striker Wayne Rooney fails to recover from injury.The Brazilian great, himself a triple World Cup winner, has told English fans not to despair before next month's finals in Germany, citing his own experience as proof that an injury to one player need not prevent a team from winning the trophy.
Rooney remains set to travel with the England squad. But the 20-year-old Manchester United forward is likely to miss most of England's group stage matches after breaking a foot bone just six weeks before the tournament.
"I think in the last four years, there is no doubt England have improved a lot," Pele said yesterday.
"In the last 10 years they have been the best organised team and have a good chance to get to the final, no doubt.
"Unfortunately for England they have a problem with Rooney having broken his foot. He is a fantastic player and is a big loss for England.
"This is a big problem, but even without him I think England are a very strong team for this World Cup."
Pele burst on to the international stage in Sweden in 1958, when he starred in Brazil's first World Cup win at the age of 17. Four years later he was a member of the squad that defended the trophy in Chile before taking a leading role in the 1970 World Cup-winning team in Mexico.
But Pele had plenty of injury setbacks along the way. His semi-final hat-trick and goal double in 1958 came after a knee injury had ruled him out of the opening games. In Chile a groin problem limited him to just two appearances.
It is no surprise that former forward Pele, now 65, backs England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson in the Swede's decision to take Rooney with him to Germany.
"I think it is (right) because it will give confidence to the team. If the doctor thinks he can be recalled, I think it is good. It makes sense for the team and the group," he said.
"In my first World Cup I did not play the first games in Sweden because I was injured. But then I came in and the same could happen to Rooney."
English defender Jamie Carragher said yesterday his team must be ready to repeat Liverpool's FA Cup final heroics to progress at the World Cup.
In one of the FA Cup's greatest finals, Liverpool twice came from behind to snatch a 3-3 draw with West Ham United before its exhausted players won a penalty shootout last weekend.
"The FA Cup is every year and the World Cup is every four years, but who knows when you're going to be in an FA Cup final again?" he said.
"In a World Cup game, if there's 20 minutes to go and the score's not going right, you know it could be another four years (to wait) - and some players may never get the chance again."

AN ADIVICE FROM THE BEST

Pele has warned England striker Wayne Rooney he must not believe the hype surrounding himself if he wants to fulfil his potential.The Brazilian superstar, who scored more than 1,000 goals during an illustrious career, is an admirer of Rooney but warned the Manchester United youngster he must keep his feet on the ground.He told Four Four Two magazine: “It’s hard to give advice but I have one thing that my father told me. He said: ‘When you’re young and you first appear, everybody says you’re the best. But if you start to think this is true, you get lost’.“So my advice is to forget about whether people say you’re good or not. Be yourself, be prepared, because in the World Cup you’ve got to be prepared, but never, never think you’re good.“Always think you can learn, that you can get better. This is my advice to Wayne Rooney.”

IT IS ASKING TOO MUCH FROM GERRARD TO PLAY ROONEY ROLE

Even before Steven Gerrard had drawn breath, much less regained feeling in his battered legs, the national Press were piling unsustainable pressure on the England midfielder's shoulders.
Suddenly, after a mentally and physically disabling FA Cup final we could forget about Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen (and the rest of the national team).
Gerrard would capture the tournament on his own, winning every tackle, creating and scoring all the goals, and leading a one-man lap of honour at the end of it all.
That's what happens when the media - or the London arm of it, anyway - have hysterics.They lose what little sense they own and make one player the sole hope of a nation.
Only the permanently befuddled - at least half the Press pack on this evidence - will follow this inane line of reasoning
Gerrard undoubtedly is a world-class player. But we didn't need Cardiff to tell us that.
And a little commonsense might have warned us away from a populist bandwagon whose spinning wheels might end up pinningGerrard - and our hopes - to the ground.
For the moment, national sportswriters can happily dream about Gerrard's ability to win England the World Cup.

Injured Rooney a World Cup doubt

Wayne Rooney is a doubt for the World Cup after fracturing a metatarsal bone in his right foot during Manchester United's 3-0 defeat at Chelsea.
The 20-year-old striker has been told he may be out for six weeks, exactly the amount of time until England's first game against Paraguay on 10 June.
He was carried off after an innocuous challenge by Chelsea's Paulo Ferreira.
England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson will name his provisional World Cup squad on 8 May and his definitive one by 15 May.

Under Fifa rules, coaches can replace players injured after the 15 May deadline, but not those hurt before.
The Swede has previously said he would gamble on Rooney's fitness - even if there was only a small chance of him being fit for the tournament.
The England coach said in March: "If Rooney has a small problem, would you still take him? What alternative do you have?
"If you have a centre-half who might not be ready you can take another one but can you find another Rooney?"
United issued a statement on their website regarding the injury on Saturday evening.
It read: "Wayne Rooney has a fracture of the base of the fourth metatarsal on his right foot. He will be out for six weeks."

Sports injury expert Roger Roberton said Rooney can forget about playing in England's first two matches at the World Cup.
"I'd doubt very much if he makes the first game or even the second game," Roberton told BBC Radio Five Live.
"I would say seven weeks. From five weeks onwards just build up the exercise and see how it goes.
"Obviously England will have machines in Germany to monitor it, to see if there is any damage being caused through exercise.
"They have to build it up from about four or five weeks and then see how it goes."
The youngster is seen as an integral part of England's bid to win the World Cup in Germany.
He broke a bone in the same foot during England's quarter-final defeat by Portugal in Euro 2004.

Devastated For Rooney

I was absolutely devastated last Saturday evening when the news came through about Wayne Rooney’s broken foot.You want to see the best players in the world playing at the World Cup and Wayne is part of that group. Sir Alex Ferguson might not appreciate me saying this, but if I were Sven Goran Eriksson I’d definitely take Wayne to Germany. I really believe it’s worth the risk with a player of his calibre. I was convinced England would win the World Cup but now I’m not so sure. Nevertheless, if we can’t get through the group stages without Wayne we don’t deserve to win it. Hopefully England can get themselves to the quarter-finals and Wayne can then play some part in the latter stages of the competition.

ROONEY RELISHING REDS' PURPLE PATCH

Wayne Rooney picked up the Barclays Player of the Month award for March and then set United on their way to a 2-0 victory over Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday, scoring the first and setting up Ji-sung Park for the second.

As Rooney told United Review, he’s enjoying being involved in some of the best football the Reds have played since he arrived at Old Trafford from Everton for £27million in summer 2004.

Is this the team’s best run of form since you joined United?

Yeah, we’ve been in great form and we’ve beaten some good sides. Personally I’ve been happy with how it’s going so I just want to keep adding to the team and help us win games.

The current run is a tribute to the midfield who have been doing a great job under difficult circumstances…

Definitely, Giggsy and Sheasy have gone into the centre of midfield in the last few games and have done really well for us, they’ve been solid and have been giving good service to the strikers. Fletch came back in again against Bolton and did a good job for us. We’ve got a few players coming back from injury now and the squad is getting bigger every week.

It’s a great position for the team to be in with all three strikers scoring regularly…

It is, and we all know now we’ve got to play well to make sure we get in the team next time and it keeps us all on our toes. Hopefully that’ll continue to keep the competition for places.
"I've got a cabinet in my house where I keep my awards… hopefully it'll be full before long!"
The way everyone celebrates no matter who’s scored the goals illustrates the team spirit at the club…

Definitely. The spirit is high, and we need to keep believing in ourselves. If we do that then we’ll be there in the end, I think.

What different qualities do Louis and Ruud bring when you’re playing alongside them?

Louis is a big strong lad, he makes a lot more runs in behind and he’s scoring loads of goals. And Ruud... well Ruud’s just a poacher! He holds the ball up well and gets so many goals through the season and you can’t argue with that.

United played Bolton recently, and Chelsea still have to travel to the Reebok. How tough a place is it to visit?

It’s a difficult place to go, especially with the pitch which isn’t the best around as we saw. Their fans get right behind them as well which also makes it difficult but we did well under the circumstances and deserved the three points.

Have you been studying the run-in all the way or is it only recently you started to look at Chelsea’s last matches now it’s a bit tighter?

Not really, again we want to concentrate 100% on our own games and concentrate on what we do. Nothing’s changed there but we know that if we can keep winning, we can push Chelsea and try to get as close to them as possible.

This season you picked up your first piece of silverware at United, how did that feel?

It was brilliant, it’s the best feeling I’ve had in my football career, especially to score two goals in the final. Even though the scoreline was convincing it was a hard game at times so it was brilliant to lift the trophy at the end of it.

Where do you keep your medals and awards?

I’ve got a cabinet in my house where I keep my awards… hopefully it’ll be full before long!

ROONEY RECIEVES DOUBLE NOMINATION

Wayne Rooney has been nominated for both the PFA Footballer of the Year award and the Young Player of the Year award. The Professional Footballer Association's 33rd annual awards dinner, to be held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, will take place on Sunday April 23, with the six nominees in each of the two categories confirmed.
Last year's winner, John Terry, and Chelsea team-mates Frank Lampard and Joe Cole, Liverpool's Steven Gerrard and Arsenal's Thierry Henry also make the shortlist for the main accolade.
Rooney is a contender for the young player accolade along with his Reds' team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, Darren Bent (Charlton), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Anton Ferdinand (West Ham) and Aaron Lennon (Tottenham).

CHARLTON TIPS ROONEY TO BE A TRUE GREAT

While arguing that he expects Ronaldinho to be the star of this summer's World Cup, Sir Bobby Charlton believes Wayne Rooney will become a better player at the peak of his career than the Brazilian is now.

"Every World Cup produces a great star," Charlton said at the launch of nominations for the Laureus World Sports Awards in Barcelona. "In my time I have seen Pele, Cruyff, Maradona and Ronaldo and this summer it could be Ronaldinho, though I have a sneaking feeling that Wayne Rooney will give him a real battle for it.
"It obviously depends on how well England do in the tournament but Wayne is a player who thrives on pressure. The bigger the game, the better Wayne plays. Wayne and Ronaldinho both have amazing skill and control but the Brazilian has a bit more experience at the moment. But don't forget that Wayne is 20 while Ronaldinho is 26. I would be prepared to bet that Wayne Rooney at 26 will be an even more effective player than Ronaldinho."

Eriksson looks into Rooney claims

The claims about the 20-year-old were made by The Sunday Mirror.
But the Football Association stressed it was "unaware of any problems in the England team dressing room."
And the FA's Adrian Bevington added: "We believe Sven-Goran Eriksson will speak to the players allegedly involved to clarify the facts."
According to the newspaper, Rooney, who earns an estimated £50,000 a week on the pitch and millions more a year from sponsorship deals, is one of a number of England players said to be involved in betting on sports other than their own.

Rooney's spokesman refused to be drawn on the allegations, telling the Sunday Mirror: "We have no comment to make."
England are due to begin their World Cup campaign in Germany in less than two months' time.
FA director of communications Bevington said: "Under Sven the England team have enjoyed a fantastic spirit within the camp, a fact that is regularly made by the players publicly.
"This spirit has ensured qualification to three consecutive tournaments.
"It's important the fans know everyone connected to the FA and the England team is determined to do all they can to achieve success in Germany this summer."
But Bevington added: "We should also state there is little the FA can do to prevent any individuals gambling privately on horse or greyhound racing though there are rules preventing betting on any football matches or competitions they are involved in."

Manchester United back in second place

Manchester United moved back into second place in the English Premier League on Sunday, getting two goals from Ryan Giggs in a 3-0 win over relegation-threatened Birmingham City.
Giggs scored the first goal in the third minute from a free kick, and then made it 2-0 in the 15th with a shot from six yards that came after a pass from Wayne Rooney.

"Rooney" scored the third goal in the 83rd, controlling a loose ball at midfield and scoring from 15 yards.
Man United has 66 points, two more than Liverpool, which beat city rival Everton 3-1 Saturday. Chelsea, which beat Manchester City 2-0 Saturday, leads the league with 78 points.

ATTACKING COMPETITION EXCITES ROONEY

Rooney's partnership with Ruud van Nistelrooy had been a permanent fixture until the recent emergence of Louis Saha as a regular starter, and the England striker feels such competition can only benefit the team.
"It's good when there are players fighting for places," Wayne told MUTV. "You know every player's got to be on their toes and put in good performances every week."
This season's wealth of options is a far cry from last term's shortage of strikers while both van Nistelrooy and Saha were sidelined with injury.
"Last season we went through a lot of the season when we just had Alan Smith on his own," recalled Rooney. "It was a bit difficult for us. I think it's good that there's competition for places."
The 20-year-old prodigy went on to reveal that he has no preference who he partners in attack, and is just happy to play his normal game.
"I think I play my game and that's it," he said. "I try and play the best I can and it really doesn't matter what other forwards are around."

ROONEY LOOKS TO SUCCESS IN WORLD CUP

England striker Wayne Rooney has claimed that the squad will accept nothing less than victory at the German 2006 World Cup.
Sven-Goran Eriksson's side goes to the finals in Germany this summer as one of the favourites for the title.
And Rooney was quoted by the Guardian as saying: "We have a lot of good players in the squad and we will be disappointed if we don't come back with the World Cup.
"We have a good chance. We have a lot of experienced players and a lot of young players as well."
He added: "Over the last year we have been playing well and hopefully we can take that into the World Cup finals and come back as winners."
Rooney got his first glimpse of the coveted trophy on Thursday in London as it made its first appearance in England as part of a tour that takes in 31 cities in 28 countries.
The Manchester United forward said: "Some of the greatest footballers ever have lifted this trophy so it was an awesome feeling to get up close to it.
"The boys will do everything they can to make sure we see it back here."
The tour began in Accra, Ghana and lasts for three months before reaching its final destination in Rome on 10 April.
The event marks the first extensive tour of the real World Cup trophy, which is rarely seen outside the nation winning each tournament.
England has injury worries over key players in left-back Ashley Cole, centre-half Sol Campbell and striker Michael Owen.
But skipper David Beckham feels their injuries could prove to be a blessing in disguise for their World Cup hopes.
He told The Sun newspaper: "We have injured players who are very important to us, like Michael Owen and Ashley Cole, but I'm not worried they won't make it.
"Both of them have proved in the past they can recover from injuries quickly".
"On the positive side they have had a rest and should be nice and fresh by the time we kick off."

ENGLAND 2 - 1 URUGUAY

Joe Cole scored a last-gasp winner for England in their World Cup warm-up international with Uruguay at Anfield.
Man-of-the-match Cole converted a near-post cross from Shaun Wright-Phillips to settle the issue.
Peter Crouch scored his first goal for England in front of his crowd to bring England level with 15 minutes remaining, cancelling out a superb first-half strike from Omar Pouso.
Gary Neville was back in an England shirt for the first time in seven months for the World Cup warm-up international with Uruguay at Anfield.
The Manchester United defender last featured for his country against Denmark in August before being laid low for the next five matches through a groin injury.
Neville was hoping for a more positive reception than when he played for Manchester United against Liverpool on the same ground in the recent FA Cup clash.
Michael Carrick was looking for the chance to press his claims for a World Cup spot with his recall in midfield in place of the injured Frank Lampard.
The Tottenham player had impressed during the trip to the United States at the end of last season but has not featured since for Sven-Goran Eriksson.
There was also a debut for Charlton striker Darren Bent who partnered Wayne Rooney up front.
Before the game there was a minute's silence for the late former England manager Ron Greenwood plus ex-England and Chelsea striker Peter Osgood who died earlier in the day.

Everton denied Rooney cash fillip

EVERTON have missed out on a cash windfall - despite Wayne Rooney winning his first trophy as a Manchester United player.
The deal that took the striker from Goodison to Old Trafford in August 2004 contained a number of clauses that could lift the final value of the transfer to £27million.
Everton will receive additional payments for a variety of circumstances, such as Rooney playing 20 competitive England games while at United or signing a contract extension.
However, although the Goodison outfit will also be handed extra bonuses should Rooney win the FA Cup, the Premiership or the European Cup during his Old Trafford stay, they did not negotiate a payment in the event of United winning the League Cup.

As a consequence, Everton will receive no extra income after Rooney scored twice in Sunday's 4-0 final win over Wigan Athletic in Cardiff.

Wigan defender not frightened of Rooney

The Wigan Athletic defender will come face to face with the England international in Cardiff on Sunday, yet he insists he is not worrying too much over facing a player he considers the best in the country."I am not going to lose any sleep over how good he is or how good United are,” said de Zeeuw. "We have to look at ourselves and concentrate on the way we play and how we approach the game.""He has magnificent natural talent and ability and it would certainly help us if he didn't have a good day on Sunday, that's for sure. But big players tend to play well on big occasions.”

Rooney and friends

If you want to know the people who play in the same team of your favourite soccer player, here is the list of all Manchester United stars!

MANCHESTER UNITED TEAM

Number

Name

Nationality

GK
1
Tim Howard »
USA
19
Edwin van der Sar »
HOL
30
Luke Steele *
ENG
48
Thomas Lee *
ENG

DF
2
Gary Neville »
ENG
4
Gabriel Heinze »
ARG
5
Rio Ferdinand »
ENG
6
Wes Brown »
ENG
22
John O'Shea »
IRL
26
Phil Bardsley * »
ENG
27
Mikaël Silvestre »
FRA
28
Gerard Piqué »
ESP
44
Adam Eckersley *
ENG
47
Jonny Evans »
NIR

MF
13
Ji-Sung Park »
KOR
17
Liam Miller »
IRL
18
Paul Scholes »
ENG
23
Kieran Richardson * »
ENG
24
Darren Fletcher * »
SCO
25
Quinton Fortune »
RSA
45
David Fox »
ENG
46
Lee Martin »
ENG
49
Richard Jones *
ENG

AT
7
Cristiano Ronaldo »
POR
8
Wayne Rooney »
ENG
9
Louis Saha »
FRA
10
Ruud van Nistelrooij »
HOL
11
Ryan Giggs »
WAL
14
Alan Smith »
ENG
20
Ole Gunnar Solskjær »
NOR
40
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake *
ENG
42
Giuseppe Rossi »
ITA

Players with this sign(*) are in the B list

Cantona fears for Rooney

"I love Rooney as a player," Cantona was quoted as saying in Wednesday's Guardian newspaper. "But I am a bit worried. Rooney can become the best player in the world at 25, 26, if he knows that in football you need to be strong, train hard, go to bed early, be careful what you are eating, what you are drinking, what you do in life.
"That is very, very important. At the same time, I am a bit worried, that at 25, 26, he could be out of the best teams, out of England, out of the best 100 players. Completely out."
Cantona said Rooney could end up like Robbie Fowler.
"Fowler was so good at 18, and four, five years later, at 23 or 24, finished, not even for England, not even for the best teams," Cantona said. "Finished. Completely. Out. Why?"