England striker Wayne Rooney will be sidelined for six weeks after breaking a bone in his right, Manchester United said in a statement on Saturday. "Wayne Rooney has a fracture of the base of the fourth metatarsal on his right foot. He will be out for six weeks," said the statement posted on United's website. Rooney sustained the injury in United's 3-0 defeat to Premiership champions Chelsea earlier on Saturday after a challenge from Paulo Ferreira in the 82nd minute. The 20-year-old forward, who appeared to be in severe pain, was stretched off the pitch immediately after the fall. The injury has cast major doubt on Rooney's chances of playing in this summer's World Cup that will kick-off in Germany on June 9th. England will play their first match against Paraguay in Frankfurt on June 10th, which will is exactly the same time length that Rooney has to recover. Sweden and Trinidad & Tobago were also drawn in Group B alongside England.
Rooney is pivotal for England's chances The prolific striker, who has scored 11 times in 29 international appearances, is considered England's most pivotal player in their World Cup campaign. With Michael Owen still struggling to recover from a similar injury he picked up last December, England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is left ruing his luck. "I have seen what has happened to Rooney and Owen and now I must hope the injuries are not bad," Eriksson was quoted as saying in the News of the World. "We need our important players fit for the World Cup," the Swede added. Eriksson had previously stated he would gamble by taking Rooney to Germany even if the former Everton man was injured. "If Rooney has a small problem, would you still take him?" he said. "What alternative do you have?... If you have a centre-half who might not be ready you can take another one but can you find another Rooney?"
