Rooney not expected to join England tomorrow

Everton do not expect Wayne Rooney to be well enough to join up with England when the squad assembles tomorrow for Sunday’s friendly with Denmark.

The 18-year-old striker is still suffering from the same flu bug which has struck down several players at the club’s Bellefield training ground, including Duncan Ferguson, Li Tie and Alan Stubbs, who has lost half a stone in weight while ill.

Rooney has been confined to his home and has been visited by a doctor and club physio Mick Rathbone.

Rathbone said: “Myself and the club doctor have visited Wayne and he is feeling very unwell.

“He is suffering from the exact symptoms as the other players who have been affected and we are assuming that it is the same viral condition.

“It is a particularly nasty bug that affects you for a period of five or six days. We will continue to monitor his progress every day and we are liaising closely with the medical staff at the FA over his condition.”