England's Rooney to miss start of World Cup

LONDON, May 26: England striker Wayne Rooney will miss the start of their World Cup campaign in Germany with a broken right foot.

His club Manchester United said in a statement today that a scan showed the metatarsal break was healing as expected but another would be needed on June 14 - five days after the World Cup kickoff -- to decide if he could play in the event.

''Manchester United has received the results from Wayne Rooney's CT scan performed yesterday and can confirm findings consistent with an injury four weeks old,'' United said.

''His injury is progressing as expected and we now hope to gradually increase his rehabilitation as planned.'' Rooney was injured in a Premier League match at Chelsea on April 29.

Yesterday's scan followed weeks of anxious speculation about Rooney's chances of joining the squad in Germany, where England are bidding for their first major trophy since winning the World Cup in 1966.

England kick off their Group B matches against Paraguay in Frankfurt on June 10. They also face Trinidad&Tobago in Nuremberg on June 15 and Sweden in Cologne on June 20.

Rooney has been vital to England's attack since becoming the youngest player to play for his country as a 17-year-old in 2003 and going on to become its youngest scorer later that year in a Euro 2004 qualifier.

REUTERS