Rooney scan reveals knee damage
Everton boss David Moyes today revealed that Wayne Rooney’s knee scan had shown ligament damage to his right knee which will sideline him for “a couple of weeks”.
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson had earlier named Rooney in his 25-man squad for the friendly against South Africa in Durban on Thursday week.
And Eriksson said that while England and Everton doctors would discuss Rooney’s injury no decision would be made on whether or not he travels to South Africa on Sunday.
Moyes has persistently urged Eriksson not to expect too much too soon of 17-year-old Rooney, who made an impressive full England debut against Turkey in April.
But Moyes today denied there was any doubt over the severity of Rooney’s injury even though he played on after taking a knock on the right knee during yesterday’s 2-1 defeat against Manchester United at Goodison Park.
The scan revealed a grade one knee ligament strain and Moyes told Sky Sports News: “It’s a genuine injury and the scan is there to prove it.
“Wayne has got a tear on his knee ligament. It’s not severe and won’t keep him out too long, but I expect it will keep him out for a couple of weeks.”
That would rule Rooney out of the South Africa game and Moyes, who said Rooney would not travel to Durban because of the injury after yesterday’s game, explained: “I thought (by missing the South Africa game) he would have then been ready to play against Serbia and Montenegro (June 3) and Slovakia (June 11) and I also thought it would have given him the break he needs.
“It’s been a real long year for the boy and at 17 there is a lot of expectation and pressure on him.
“I think, at the right times, he has to be been given a break. We have to remember his age and not expect too much of him.”
If Rooney’s recovery goes to plan then Moyes expects him to be fit enough to join up with the England squad when they go to La Manga a week on Friday.
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