Rooney upbeat over World Cup return: Gerrard

Wayne Rooney has told Steven Gerrard he will play in the World Cup.

The Manchester United striker is recovering from a broken metatarsal and will undergo a scan on June 14 to determine when he can return to training.

Consequently, he is unlikely to be available until the knock-out rounds, should England make it through the group stages.

But Gerrard said: “Wayne has been really positive and is confident he can come back and play some part in the World Cup.

“He doesn’t want to name a game for his comeback in case he doesn’t quite make it, but he’s not the kind of person to be miserable or need much picking up. He’s young, fresh and full of confidence – and really upbeat.

“The first time I saw him after his injury, I expected him to be a bit down. But even then he was adamant he was going to play some part.

“That’s great news as a teammate and there’s no one more desperate than Wazza to play in the World Cup – except for me.”