The Times:
Wayne Rooney is braced for 48 hours of critical and probably tense talks between Manchester United and the Football Association that could determine whether he plays any part in this summer's World Cup finals.
The 20-year-old forward hoped that a scan yesterday morning would result in him being given the green light to join the England squad next week, but the results were inconclusive and will be debated by medical experts at Old Trafford and the FA today and tomorrow. There was no firm news as Sven-Göran Eriksson arrived in Reading to oversee a 2-1 defeat by Belarus in last night's B international and the head coach admitted that he had not yet spoken to anyone from United. "It is important to wait until the doctor looks at the scan in the morning," he said.
The Swede now moves on to some delicate discussions with United, who are known to be concerned about the idea of Rooney going to Germany if less than fully fit. At the present rate of progress, he is believed to be two weeks away from resuming full training, but the FA must attempt to convince United that such a prognosis is good enough for him to travel.
The sensitivity of the situation was reflected in the remarkable lengths to which United went to keep yesterday's developments under wraps.
Rooney, having left his home in Cheshire at 8.30am, was smuggled in through a service door at the BUPA hospital in Whalley Range, Manchester, at 11.40 and left under a similar veil of secrecy an hour later, again evading the assembled media thanks to an elaborate decoy that involved his Chrysler car being parked at the front while he was driven away in another vehicle.
The scan was overseen by Tony Gill, a little-known figure among United's medical staff who has suddenly found himself thrust into the spotlight after the abrupt departure of his colleague, Mike Stone, this week. Stone parted company with United after a series of disagreements with Sir Alex Ferguson and Carlos Queiroz, the manager's assistant.
The Mirror:
Rooney had a CT scan at Fazakerley Hospital in Liverpool early yesterday morning and, after a fitness session, travelled to a hospital in Manchester for an MRI scan.
He was pleased with the outcome, although Ferguson and his medical team will discuss the results in detail before deciding whether to give Rooney their blessing to travel with his England colleagues.
Whatever Ferguson's views, from tomorrow England will be entitled to take control of the player's rehabilitation.
Progress as he recovers from the breaks in his right foot is said to be encouraging, leaving him ready to step up training in two weeks, around the time England play the first match of the finals against Paraguay.
CT scans create an image from different angles around the body. The information is processed by computer to show a cross-section of body tissue. The MRI scan creates a picture of almost all the tissue in the body.
The Sun:
Manchester United are ready to sue the FA if Wayne Rooney returns crocked from the World Cup.
Old Trafford bosses are set to give Roo the go-ahead to team up with England for the finals.
But they will try to take the FA to the cleaners if they think their star striker's recovery is mishandled in Germany.
They fear Rooney could return home after the tournament with his metatarsal in bad shape.
And if that forces him to miss the start of next season, United would demand that the FA cover Rooney's £55,000-a-week wages for however long he is sidelined.
An FA source confirmed: "The bosses at Soho Square are terrified Man U will take action by suing if Rooney returns injured."