ROONEY is injury free

Sven-Goran Eriksson today insisted Wayne Rooney is "injury free" and now just needs to obtain match fitness before he plays in the World Cup. The England coach declared the final decision on when the Manchester United striker can play in Germany will be "Rooney's and mine" after the player's club stated that independent medical opinion pointed to him not being ready to play until after the group stage.

Rooney joined in training with the rest of the squad in Baden-Baden this morning after undergoing a scan on his broken metatarsal in Manchester yesterday. United said last night that the 20-year-old "will require very careful assessment in order to address his suitability" to play.

However, Eriksson said today: "The good news from yesterday evening and today is Rooney has no more injury. He is injury free and it is up to us now to get him match-fit and when we think he is match-fit I am prepared to take him to any specialist we or Manchester United want to take him to."

Eriksson read out a prepared statement at this morning's press conference and then refused to answer any more questions on the subject from the assembled media. He referred to the independent medical advice given by Angus Wallace, a professor of orthopaedic surgery at Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre and a former chairman of the National Sports Medicine Institute, who was on hand at the Whalley Range clinic which Rooney visited yesterday.

"Professor Wallace assured me this morning that he will be here when we think he is match fit," added Eriksson. "I'm prepared to listen to everyone and discuss with them about Wayne Rooney but the last say in this story is Rooney's and mine. I'm doing this in the best interests of Rooney, the England team and 40 million England fans. I'm responsible for it and I don't want any more discussions about Rooney until I tell you he is match fit. I don't want my players talking about Wayne Rooney's foot or injury and I hope you respect that."

It would appear the Swede is determined to field Rooney when he is considered to be fully fit despite another warning from United this morning, this time coming from Old Trafford director Sir Bobby Charlton, himself a World Cup winner with England in 1966.

What we don't want is for somebody to make a decision to play him when he's not fully fit," said Charlton. "That's dangerous for his future career, he's only a young boy."

Rooney broke his foot when playing for United against Chelsea on April 29 and his appearance in any of England's group games - they play Paraguay on Saturday, Trinidad
and Tobago next Thursday and Sweden on June 20 - would represent a remarkable recovery.

The second-round game, should England qualify, will be on June 24 or 25, depending on whether they win Group B or come second.

England captain David Beckham revealed Rooney had proved his fitness alongside the other members of the England squad. "He's done the fitness tests the way the other lads have done them. With him he will play when he is ready and that will be down to the management. It's nice now that all the squad are fit and back in training," said Beckham.

There were words of sympathy for Jermain Defoe, meanwhile, as Rooney's recovery means the Tottenham striker, who had been on stand-by, will have to leave the squad. "I think it's always hard when players have been in the squad all the way through," added Beckham. "Whether he stays with the team or goes on holiday Jermain is one of the best strikers in Europe. He's been top class so he will be sadly missed."

Steven Gerrard also welcomed the news on Rooney but sympathised with Defoe. "Jermain's been really professional," said the Liverpool captain. "Everyone knows he's a fantastic talent but unfortunately the manager can only pick 23 players. We've had good news on Wayne getting the all-clear after the scan but it's a shame because he's (Defoe) such a wonderful talent."

Source: Tom Lutz and agencies (Guardian)