Rooney injury: fact or fiction

Everton 1

The 17-year-old will undergo a scan this morning to assess the extent of the damage but manager David Moyes believes Rooney is also a doubt for the vital Euro 2004 qualifier with Slovakia.

The news has been greeted with suspicion by the FA, who have been embroiled in a row with Moyes over Rooney’s availability for the South African trip, coach Sven-Goran Eriksson insisting only yesterday the player should travel, and the matter could yet escalate into a full-scale row.

“Wayne picked up an injury in the first-half, then aggravated it when he was tackled by Laurent Blanc in the second,” said Moyes.

“He will have a scan in the morning but he definitely won’t travel to South Africa and he is a doubt for the later matches as well.”

The FA seem sure to ask for a medical report into Rooney’s fitness and may also ask him to travel south for an independent assessment into the injury, which has come less than a fortnight since Moyes met Eriksson to try and improve relations between the England camp and the leading clubs.

It was a disappointing end to a rare afternoon to forget for Rooney, who will reflect on three wasted chances during the second half when the sides were locked at 1-1. His failure to convert any of them, particularly the golden opportunity presented to him by Gary Naysmith’s perfect cross along the six-yard area which found Rooney completely unmarked in a central position, cost Everton their chance of landing a prized UEFA Cup spot next season.

“I think you could say it is part of his education,” reflected Moyes.

“It’s been a good season but there is no silver lining for us today. This game is about winners and losers.”

United are back in the former category for the eighth time in the Premiership, and celebrated enthusiastically as the trophy was handed over to the delight of the jubilant away support. It was the Dutchman, Ruud van Nistelrooy who won yesterday’s contest, blasting home a late spot-kick after referee Mike Riley capped a string of decisions which left Moyes fuming by ruling Alan Stubbs had dragged Van Nistelrooy back inside the area.

The £18.5million signing from PSV was scoring his 44th goal of the season, in the process becoming the first United player to find the net in 10 successive games, as well as equalling his own Premiership record of scoring in eight matches on the trot.

It also earned him the Premiership’s golden boot award, with player of the year Thierry Henry unable to match his 25 goals.

“The golden boot and a Premiership winners’ medal is a great combination,” said the 26-year-old, who was last off the pitch and threw his shirt into the crowd before his departure.

“Last year I won some awards but they didn’t mean as much because the club didn’t win anything, so today is extra special. I have no complaints about Thierry Henry winning the player of the year. He deserved it. In any case, I voted for him, so I can’t say anything.”

United boss Alex Ferguson, could barely contain his delight at Van Nistelrooy’s contribution.

“What can you say,” he said. “He just gets better and stronger with every game.” EVERTON: Wright, Hibbert, Yobo, Stubbs, Unsworth, Watson, Carsley, Gravesen (Chadwick 75), Naysmith (Pistone 83), Rooney, Campbell (Ferguson 40).

MAN UTD: Carroll, Brown (Phil Neville 40), Ferdinand, Silvestre, O’Shea (Blanc 45), Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs, van Nistelrooy, Solskjaer (Fortune 78).

Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire).