MANCHESTER, England -- Wayne Rooney's chances of playing in
the World Cup were given a boost on Friday when he was seen kicking
a ball during England's training session.
Sky Sports News reported that the Manchester United striker, who
is recovering from a broken right foot, was running, twisting,
turning and kicking a ball with both feet.
England assistant coach Steve McClaren, who takes over from
Sven-Goran Eriksson after the World Cup, said the 20-year-old
Rooney was making progress.
"He's been working with the United physios all this week,
really since he got the injury." McClaren told Sky Sports. "He's
stepping things up and joining us on Monday and then having the
scan so things are progressing well."
Rooney was injured during United's game against Chelsea April
29. Although he is due to fly out to Germany with the rest of the
England squad on Monday, he will return to Manchester on Wednesday
to have another scan on his foot.
Under FIFA regulations, Eriksson must decide by Friday whether
to keep Rooney on the squad or replace him with another player.
Although England has ruled him out of the group games against
Paraguay, Trinidad & Tobago and Sweden, Eriksson hopes he will be
fit to play in the team advances to knockout phase, which starts
June 24.
McClaren said he was hopeful that Wednesday's scan will show the
break has healed.
"You can never take things for granted in football, with a
metatarsal especially," he said. "Hopefully the scans will be OK
but you've seen the progress that he's making and he's a confident
lad and wants to be there and he will be doing everything possible
to be there."