Rooney, Barry injuries give Capello headaches

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-05-11 10:02

LONDON - England coach Fabio Capello was awaiting an update on Wayne Rooney's latest injury problem on Monday, one day before he has to send his provisional World Cup squad to FIFA.

Rooney limped off the field toward the end of Manchester United's final Premier League game against Stoke on Sunday.

United manager Alex Ferguson said it was a recurrence of the groin injury the striker hurt in training on April 22 although he said he believed Rooney would still make it to the World Cup.

The problem for Capello, however, is that he has several more players either injured, in danger of breaking down at any time, or only recently back from long-term problems just as the manager begins the long buildup to the June 11-July 11 World Cup in South Africa.

The Italian has placed great importance on the team winning its opening game against its main group rival United States on day two of the championship and that is why all these injury woes could upset his preparations.

"We do have problems and I have 24 hours to decide," Capello said Monday. "I will ensure that the players will be fit (for the World Cup)."

Capello has until midnight Tuesday to send his provisional squad of 30 to FIFA and then has to trim that to a final 23 players for the World Cup by June 1.

The England manager spent much of Monday attending a 2018 World Cup bid event at Wembley and the launch of his Capello Index - a new system for rating players' performances - at the London Stock Exchange. He is due to hold a briefing with reporters on Tuesday to discuss his squad and injury headaches.

Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry, who appeared to be a certainty to go to the championship before his injury in last week's game against Tottenham, has been ruled out for three more weeks with ankle ligament damage.

That means he will miss World Cup warmup games against Mexico and Japan and training camps at altitude in Austria.

World Cup veterans David Beckham and Michael Owen were ruled out several weeks ago because of injuries and - in Owen's case - a lack of form.

Rio Ferdinand, who is set to be England's captain at the World Cup, has a problem with his lower back which flares up repeatedly and has caused him to miss many of Man United's games this season.

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