SIR Alex Ferguson has claimed it will be éimpossibleé for Wayne Rooney to play any part in the World Cup unless a June 14 scan shows his broken foot is fully healed.

While the England camp made no attempt to conceal their delight at confirmation that Rooney will fly out to Germany on June 5 with the other members of Sven-Goran Erikssonés 23-man squad, as usual it was left to Ferguson to strike a cautionary note.

After a lengthy telephone conversation with Eriksson, Ferguson might have been persuaded to hand over responsibility for Rooneyés rehabilitation to the Football Association medical staff, but the Scot is still not certain whether the 20-year-old will actually kick a ball in Germany.

And Ferguson has left no-one in any doubt; if Rooney is not given the all-clear when he returns from Baden-Baden, as far as he is concerned the striker will not be going back.

éThe next scan is the key one,é Ferguson told MUTV. éHopefully, by June 14, the fracture will have healed. If not, it will be impossible.

éOn day one we promised the boy we would do our very best to get him to the World Cup. That is exactly what we are doing.

éBut obviously, there has to be an improvement. There has to be a complete recovery.é

On the face of it, there is hardly any sense in Rooney travelling to Germany given he will not be able to do any football training and he will be leaving behind all the state-of-the-art medical equipment available to him at Unitedés Carrington training complex.

Trust

However, FIFA regulations stipulate any player selected for a World Cup squad must spend at least some time in Germany.

In addition, while Rooney will begin light jogging next week when the England squad join him at Carrington for the friendlies with Hungary and Jamaica, by June 5 it is anticipated the former Everton star will have advanced onto shuttle runs, work which is better done as part of a group.

Although there is a large degree of trust required on Unitedés part, they believe if Rooney is pushed too hard in Germany the evidence will be shown on the scan, the results of which are likely to be known on June 15, the day England tackle Trinidad and Tobago in their second Group B game.

Even if, as Eriksson and Ferguson hope, Rooney is then allowed to begin proper football training again, the chances of him being involved in the final group match against Sweden on June 20 are minimal unless by then England find themselves in a desperate situation, precisely the scenario Ferguson has been so anxious to avoid.

Nevertheless, Ferguson insists nothing would give him more pleasure than to see Rooney pit his wits against the best players in the world and he refutes any suggestion to the contrary.

éIt is absolutely ludicrous to suggest that Manchester United do not want Wayne to play in the World Cup,é said Ferguson.

éThe benefits he would get in terms of experience and confidence are obvious.é

Developments

There is no doubt Eriksson has emerged as a big winner from the latest developments though, even if is now committed to take a player to Germany who may not make the field.

At best, Rooneyés first meaningful contribution would be in a second round game on either June 24 or 25, and more likely a potential quarter-final the following weekend, by which time nine weeks will have elapsed since the striker suffered the injury at Chelsea.

Not that Eriksson, who always insisted he would take Rooney with him even if there was the merest chance of him being fit, is bothered about that.

éThis is very encouraging news,é he said.

éI am looking forward to Wayne joining up with us on Sunday. The fact he is flying out to Germany with us will give everyone a huge lift.

éDespite all the speculation, there has been a very positive dialogue with Manchester United all along.

éWe are very grateful for the support they have given Wayne and the England team.

éWe are still hoping the second scan will show further improvement and that Wayne can play his part in the World Cup.é

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