Rooney tries to remain positive
02/05/2006 - 17:43:14Wayne Rooney insists he must be positive about his chances of playing for England at the World Cup.
The Manchester United striker broke a metatarsal bone in his foot during Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Chelsea.
He has provisionally been told that in the best-case scenario the injury should take six weeks to heal, and that makes him a doubtful starter for England in Germany, certainly for the group games.
Rooney, 20, told MUTV: “I’ll be coming in [for treatment] every day and trying to give myself the best possible chance.
“I’m obviously devastated to have broken my foot at this moment in time. It really is horrible.
“But I’m in great hands at United and I know with the physio team I’ve got behind me here that they’ll be able to give me the best possible chance.
“You’ve just got to get on with it and be positive. That’s what I’m trying to do at the moment and I’ll be trying to get myself fit as soon as possible.”
United’s medical staff are in charge of Rooney’s treatment but England team doctors are liaising with them.
England’s first group game at the World Cup is on June 10, when Paraguay are the opponents.
United boss Alex Ferguson has said the club will have the final say on whether their striker goes to the World Cup – after England head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said he would give the 20-year-old “every chance” to recover.
That has been interpreted in some quarters as meaning there could be conflict between United and the England camp.
But an FA spokesman said: “There is no rift whatsoever. We are communicating very regularly, there has been very good communication between Sir Alex and Sven.”
Rooney has been overwhelmed by the public support since Saturday’s injury at Stamford Bridge, when he fell awkwardly under a challenge from Paulo Ferreira.
“I’d like to thank everyone who’s sent me messages and supported me,” said Rooney.
“But it’s now important that I have some privacy and the press leave me alone as I try to get myself fit.”
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