By Chris O'Brien
May 2 2006

Sven-Goran Eriksson has announced that he expects to take Wayne Rooney to Germany for the World Cup Finals regardless of the striker's fitness. The 20-year-old, who had looked set to carry the flag for England's hopes, is almost certain to miss the majority of the tournament with a damaged foot.

England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has said he will take Wayne Rooney to the World Cup even if their is a slight chance of him being fit for the latter stages of the tournament.

The 20-year-old is struggling after breaking a bone in his right foot and is rated as hugely doubtful for the finals, to be held in Germany over June & July. The news has come to a massive blow to England's hopes, with Rooney rated as the country's 'match-winning' player having enjoyed another sparling season of Premiership football.

Eriksson will name a provisional 23-man squad for the World Cup on May 8th. The Swede has confirmed that he is prepared to take a gamble on Rooney's fitness, and will then have up until June 9th, 24 hours before England's opening game against Paraguay, to call-up a replacement should the former Everton forward be showing few signs of a speedy recovery.

"Wayne is a world-class player and we will give him every chance to play in the World Cup; with such a huge talent you have to do that." said Eriksson.

Rooney is England's biggest injury concern, but there are also doubts over the full fitness of Michael Owen and Ledley King, with Ashley Cole still struggling to recover from injury. John Terry and Dean Ashton are other names who currently find themselves in the treatment room, with bookmakers set to increase odds on potential England success.