FIFA: England can wait on Rooney

FIFA has told England they can wait until June 9 to replace Wayne Rooney.

The Manchester United striker seems unlikely to play in the World Cup finals in Germany this summer after breaking a metatarsal bone in the 3-0 defeat by Chelsea on Saturday.

However, rather than having to replace injured players before the May 15 deadline, when Sven-Goran Eriksson will name his squad of 23, the England boss will have until the day before their opening game against Paraguay.

A FIFA spokesman told The Daily Telegraph: “Coaches will have players who are crucial to their team and who they hope will be fit in time for the tournament and this gives them a chance to recover fully right up to the beginning of their team’s World Cup.

“That provision is there for any player, provided a medical certificate confirms the injury.”