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Eriksson Isn`t Giving Up on Rooney

Sven Goran Eriksson, Coach for the English football team, is planning to take his Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney to Germany this summer for the upcoming World Cup. Rooney is currently suffering from a knee injury, but Eriksson is set on taking him aboard. Eriksson plans to take Rooney, who broke the fourth metatarsal bone in his right foot during the 3-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge which confirmed Chelseas as Barclays Premiership champions, to the World Cup finals in Germany next month if the striker is fit enough to play at some stage.

Eriksson spent Sunday talking to the England doctor and plans to have Rooney in the squad if the player can recover in time. Rooney looks certain to be in the England squad when Eriksson announces his initial selection next week ahead of the finals which begin in Germany on June 9. United expect Rooney to be out for six weeks but England`s first group game of the World Cup finals against Paraguay is less than six weeks away.

"If we think that at some stage he could take part in the World Cup then I will pick him," Eriksson told Sky Sports News. "It`s too early to know if he is going to have a chance to be fit or not." He added: "If we think he has a chance to play in the World Cup then I will pick him. I think it`s a hope for all England fans as well, we`re talking about Wayne Rooney. I think we have to look at that closer to the World Cup. I hope the World Cup is not over for Rooney, I really hope so for him and for the England fans and everyone. "We will have regular contact with the Manchester United medical staff in the coming week. During the last 24 hours I talked to my doctor 10 times. I don`t want to rule Wayne Rooney out of the World Cup until they tell me there is no chance he can take part in it."