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14th August, 2007
LONDON: Wayne Rooney will be out for two months with a hairline fracture in his left foot, Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson said Monday.
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.
He is also likely to miss the qualifiers away to Estonia on October 13 and Russia on October 17.
“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.”
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).
“The England striker was substituted at halftime after being caught by Michael Duberry as the Royals defender tried to block a shot,” United said.
“Although Rooney did briefly play on after receiving treatment, Sir Alex Ferguson opted not to risk any further injury by fielding him in the second half, and a post-match hospital scan has validated that decision.
“The result of Rooney’s scan has worsened a frustrating opening day of the season, and as yet there is no timescale of his recovery.”
Rooney’s injury, which could rule him out for around three months, is a major blow to both club and country, which were already facing a real battle to qualify for Euro 2008.
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.
England, under Steve McClaren, are lying fourth in Group E with 14 points from seven games after a lacklustre campaign in which the coach has faced considerable criticism.
They trail Russia with 15 points, Israel on 17 from eight games and leaders Croatia, who also have 17.
Rooney will almost certainly miss their next games at home to Israel on Sept. 8 and Russia four days later.
He also faces a struggle to feature in October, when England host Estonia and then travel to Russia for a game on Oct. 17 considered as pivotal to their qualifying chances.
The 21-year-old should be in contention for their final qualifier at home to Croatia on Nov. 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 Aug 22.
The injury woes of the hugely talented striker were key reasons for England’s exits at their 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. If he’d have been on the pitch I think we would have won it,” the Scot said.
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