[Legend]

Steven Gerrard has stated that his England team mate, Wayne Rooney, is confident that he will be able to take some part in this year's World Cup in Germany.

With England’s opening game against Paraguay out of the question attention has turned to another scan that Rooney will take on June 14th to determine whether he can make the final group game against Sweden on June 20th.

In fact Rooney joined his England team-mates at Old Trafford yesterday as they prepared for the final two warm up matches before flying to Germany and we seen an upbeat Rooney joining in with jogging exercise.

Gerrard has been in constant contact with his Merseyside buddy and comments that the Manchester United star is still in high spirits and looking forward to the World Cup.

"I've been in touch with him fairly constantly and spoken to him a lot," said Gerrard.

"Wayne has been really positive and is confident he can come back and play some part in the World Cup.

"He doesn't want to name a game for his comeback in case he doesn't quite make it and that might bring him down a bit.

"But he's not the kind of person to be miserable or need much picking up.
"He's young, fresh and full of confidence - and really upbeat.

"The first time I saw him after his injury, I expected him to be a bit down. But even then he was adamant he was going to play some part.

"That's great news as a team-mate and there's no one more desperate than Wazza to play in the World Cup - except for me."

However, William Hill are not as confident about Rooney as Gerrard is. The bookies make Rooney just a 50/50 chance of making an appearance at the finals with prices as tight as 5/6 that he will play some part and 5/6 that he takes no part.

[Legend]

The bookies are not often wrong but at 50/50???

[Joe]

Now it seems as though his scan is being brought forward 7 days.

Doesn't seem to good for him if they have it then, England can replace him until 9th June so maybe the prospects are not too good.

[Stiles]

I dont think he will play at all. Im sticking my neck out now.

[King of Kings]

Originally Posted by Stiles21

I dont think he will play at all. Im sticking my neck out now.

Even if he does play how fit will he be?

I know that it may be a lift for England if he plays but I remember this with Beckham 4 years ago. Everything centered around Beckham's big toe and that in itself added to England's downfall.

[Stiles]

Originally Posted by King of Kings

Even if he does play how fit will he be?

I know that it may be a lift for England if he plays but I remember this with Beckham 4 years ago. Everything centered around Beckham's big toe and that in itself added to England's downfall.

Bingo.

If i was Sven i wouldnt take Rooney unless his foot miracles heals to the point where he is close to making the team for the last group match.

If you beyond this point he wont be fit enough. Granted he is a very special player.

For me it should be Owen, Theo, P.C and Defoe.

Obviously Roonster would be a miss but as KOK noted the same thing happened with Beckham.

[squid]

Speaking from a purely objective stand point i have to say that it has been strange to see a full nation clutching at straws! He is not going to be able play until the second round, if England make it. You are asking a 20 year old to recover fully and to be at a suitable fitness level to play at the World Cup! Even if he does play it appears that he will only be able to play in small parts of the games. Its a farce! I would be embarrased if our F.A were pinning our hopes on one player being able to play 25 minutes or so in a round that you havent even qualified for yet! especially since you have an alright squad as it is.

Sven should cut his losses, pick either Johnson or Defoe and start actually concentrating on trying to win the thing.

[Daz]

How can he play or even go for that matter.

We need FIT strikers. Sven is f***king this world cup up for us.

[Joe]

Originally Posted by Daz

How can he play or even go for that matter.

We need FIT strikers. Sven is f***king this world cup up for us.

Too right he is.

He has made big mistakes with the squad selection, all in the attacker's role. there is not enough options for when thinkgs don't work ourt right.

By the last game i reckon england will be down to one lone striker because that is all that is left, and there is no chance of Walcott playing well as a lone striker.

[1966]

Sven is messing this up but if has any chance at all of playing we should take him. He is the best player we have and his presense will help us.

If there is a bad result we can lift ourselves knowing that Wayne will be back soon.