ROONEY'S 'PERFECT RECOVERY'

Last updated : 23 May 2006 By Ed

England doc, Leif Sward:

"Everything points to a perfect recovery. I have the highest hopes for Rooney and the World Cup.

"I hope I can give a perfect answer about Rooney after the next MRI examination on Thursday. I hope everything has healed good and I can say everything points in that direction. This healing process has been very, very good.

"It seems like Wayne Rooney has the gift of healing quickly - but it's not that strange. Young people have that gift, much more than older patients."

Scary stuff from Eriksson:

"So far everything is okay but let's wait until Thursday.

"He will not be fit to play football on Friday. But, hopefully, he will be OK to train. I have always been very positive that Wayne Rooney would be involved.

"Maybe that was more to do with my heart than my head.

"But now I am quite sure that at some stage of the World Cup he'll be ready to play. I strongly believe that."