England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson is optimistic that Wayne Rooney,
Manchester United's prolific striker who missed England's 1-0 win over Paraguay
on Saturday for injury, could play some part for England against Trinidad and
Tobago in Nuremberg on Thursday.
Eriksson said that Rooney would play as soon as he was "match-fit."
"I'm very optimistic, always. I'm born like that. We have to decide that day
by day, to be honest." he added.
Rooney, 20, returned to full training last Thursday after a foot scan showed
his broken metatarsal bone was healed.
However, Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will be furious if his
striker does make his World Cup debut against Trinidad and Tobago.
Ferguson wanted Eriksson to keep Rooney wrapped in cotton wool until the
knock-out stages of the World Cup.
Rooney trained on Monday and Eriksson promised to invite an independent
expert to look at Rooney's fitness before he played World Cup matches.
England central defender Rio Ferdinand said his United and England team-mate
Rooney was "desperate" to play in the World Cup.
England fans are clearly impatient to see him back on the pitch.
England's winning start to their World Cup campaign eased the pressure on
Eriksson to rush Rooney back into action.
Sweden's surprise goalless draw with Trinidad and Tobago means a win for
England against the Caribbean islanders will clinch a place in the knock-out
rounds.
