The scan which will make-or-break Wayne Rooney's World Cup has been brought forward to June 7.
The 20-year-old was due to fly out to Germany with the England squad next
Monday before returning to Manchester 10 days later to have the CT scan which
would determine whether or not he will be able to take any part in the
competition.
However, following a meeting between Sir Alex Ferguson, Sven-Goran Eriksson
and the medical teams of both England and Manchester United at the Premiership's
Carrington training complex this morning it has been decided to bring the scan
forward by seven days.
While United are refusing to give any credence to weekend reports that the Old
Trafford club felt Eriksson had been too optimistic in his assessment of the
results of the scan Rooney had on Thursday, it now seems the forward is less
likely to play in Germany than the England manager previously felt.
While United stress the next scan is 'precautionary', it is stating the
obvious to say the injury is less likely to have healed than it would have done
had the scan taken place on June 14 as originally intended.
Confirmation that the fracture involved a joint is also telling, as breaks of
this nature usually take longer to heal.
While Eriksson has continually stressed his intention to take Rooney to
Germany even if the youngster could only play a minimal part in the competition,
he is also acutely aware of Ferguson's concern over Rooney going when he is less
than 100% fit and then being forced to play.
While under FIFA rules there is little Ferguson could do to prevent Eriksson
calling Rooney into his squad, in practical terms the Football Association are
anxious to avoid getting involved in a dispute with United over a player who
could be vital to England for a decade and beyond.
With FIFA demanding that any alterations to Eriksson's 23-man squad be made no
later than June 9 - one day before the opening game against Paraguay in
Frankfurt - Rooney's revised scan will now determine whether he plays or not.
If the results are favourable, he will be dispatched to Germany on the first
available plane.
However if, as looks increasingly certain, Rooney's foot has not healed
sufficiently for Ferguson's liking, the player will begin his summer holiday and
Eriksson will call on a replacement, most probably one of standby duo Jermain
Defoe or Andrew Johnson.
