Blow for United and England as Rooney breaks foot

LONDON: England striker Wayne Rooney suffered a hairline fracture of his left foot in Manchester United's 0-0 draw with Reading on Sunday, the Premier League champions announced.

Rooney, who also broke a bone in his right foot during Euro 2004 and another bone in the right foot just before the 2006 World Cup, had the latest injury confirmed by a hospital visit, the club said on its Web site (www.manutd.com).

He will be out for two months with a hairline fracture in his left foot, according to Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson.

The striker will therefore miss Sunday's derby against Manchester City at Eastlands, England's friendly with Germany on August 22 at Wembley, and the 2008 European Championships qualifiers there against Israel on September 8 and Russia on September 12.

"It's a hairline fracture of the foot. Hopefully he will be back in two months," Ferguson said.

"It's a bad blow for him and it's a bad blow for Steve McClaren," the Scot said of the England boss, his former assistant at United.

"I'm disappointed for Steve but England should cope without him."

The striker, United's joint top scorer last season with Cristiano Ronaldo on 23 goals, is a vital part of England's bid to reach the European Championship finals in Austria and Switzerland.

Lacklustre campaign

England, under Steve McClaren, is lying fourth in Group E with 14 points from seven games after a lacklustre campaign in which the coach has faced considerable criticism.

It trails Russia with 15 points, Israel on 17 from eight games and leaders Croatia, who also have 17.

Rooney will almost certainly miss its next games at home to Israel on September 8 and Russia four days later.

He also faces a struggle to feature in October, when England hosts Estonia and then travel to Russia for a game on October 17 considered as pivotal to its qualifying chances.

The 21-year-old should be in contention for their final qualifier at home to Croatia on November 21 - by which time England's fate could already be decided.

McClaren gets an early chance to look at his options in England's friendly against Germany at Wembley on August 22.

The injury woes of the hugely talented striker were key reasons for England's exits at its last two tournaments.

Rooney broke a metatarsal in the early stages of England's quarter-final loss to hosts Portugal in 2004 and his lack of form after another injury was a big factor in their defeat by the same opponents at the same stage of last year's World Cup.

Ferguson had been hoping for the best immediately after Sunday's season opener at Old Trafford, telling Sky Sports News: "It was painful, he couldn't really stand on it.

"I don't think it's the same injury as the last, obviously we hope and pray that that's the case.

"But it was sore and it started to swell so there was no point in trying anything for the second half."

However, the hospital confirmed the worst fears for Ferguson, who had underlined Rooney's absence for the second half.

"I think the loss of Wayne Rooney was obvious," the Scot said. "If he'd have been on the pitch I think we would have won it."

Agencies

(China Daily 08/14/2007 page23)