Thu 8 Jun 06
The Rooney Risk
Sven wants to play Wayne Rooney against the Swedes on June 20 - and Sir Alex is fit to be tied:
Relations between Manchester United and the Football Association faced total collapse last night following Sven-Goran Eriksson’s insistence that he might defy medical advice and play Wayne Rooney in the group stages of the World Cup.
Manchester United believe the England head coach has reneged on an agreement to abide by the findings of independent medical specialist Professor Angus Wallace.
Although Rooney’s metatarsal has healed, Wallace says the player will not be match fit for the group stages and risks another injury. But Eriksson said yesterday that he would choose when to play him. Although Rooney will not face Paraguay tomorrow or Trinidad and Tobago next Thursday, Eriksson wants to be able to use him against Sweden on June 20.
The Swede’s uncharacteristic defiance of United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has left the Scot and the club, Rooney’s employers, incandescent with rage.
It is understood that United chief executive David Gill and his FA counterpart, Brian Barwick, were involved in a fierce telephone dispute yesterday in which Barwick accused Gill of being “irresponsible” over Rooney.
When in doubt, go with the doctor’s orders, I say. I’d love to see Rooney back as soon as possible, but I have a bad feeling about this.
Damian P.
