Wayne Rooney has been included in Sven-Goran Eriksson's World Cup squad, BBC Sport understands.

Rooney appears to have won the race to prove his fitness after breaking a metatarsal in his right foot while playing for Manchester United in April.

 

He flew back to Germany to re-join the England squad landing at Karlsruhe near Baden-Baden just after 2200 BST.

 

He had earlier spent two hours at a Manchester clinic while doctors studied the results of Wednesday's scan.

 

Football Association sources told the BBC unofficially Rooney is in Eriksson's final England squad for the tournament.

 

FA executive director David Davies had a broad grin on his face as he left hospital with Rooney before they drove to Manchester Airport.

 

An official announcement has yet to be made by either the FA or United - who announced on their website at 1945 BST that a "decisive" scan result "will be announced this evening".

 

However at 2245 BST the United website hinted an official statement might not come until Thursday.

 

But it does appear that Rooney has been given the green light by the group that spent two hours locked in the clinic at Whalley Range.

 

That group included United doctor Tony Gill and physio Rob Swire, England team doctor Leif Sward and other specialists.

 

It is also thought that an independent consultant from Fifa was on hand should there have been any conflict between Rooney's club and the FA - and it was reported that United lawyers were in attendance.

 

If Rooney is in the squad it will send the unfortunate Jermain Defoe of Tottenham, who had been on standby, back to England.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/england/5057514.stm

I was very pleased to hear this news.

Hopefully we won't need him until the latter stages of the 2nd round match

Good news!

Looking forward to his performance.

he'll be Eriksson's secret weapon in Quater-finals - Semi-finals stages

yep 1 day to go

Yay! :D I was worried I wouldn't get to see him play. Been a fan of his ever since I saw him at the Euro cup a few years ago.

yay!! he's on my fantasy league! :wink3:

you do know he won't be fit until the knockout stages?

you do know he won't be fit until the knockout stages?

 

 

he's on my substitution list :P but thanks anyways Burns.... :P