Wayne Rooney has been ruled out for four weeks after suffering an ankle injury in training today.
The Manchester United striker left Carrington on crutches and will miss Sunday’s Barclays Premier League clash with Blackburn and most likely their remaining two group matches in the Champions League.
However, more importantly from an England point of view, Rooney will also be unavailable for the friendly with Austria next week and the Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia at Wembley on November 21st.
England coach Steve McClaren had only just named Rooney in his squad and greeted the news with understandable disappointment.
"It is hugely disappointing for us and him," he said. "Given the form he has been in and the contribution he has made to England over the last two games means it is a blow."
"But we have to deal with it, like we have dealt with situations like these before. It is an opportunity for someone else to come and do a job."
Rooney has scored nine goals in his last nine games for club and country and would have scored in nine matches on the trot had he been credited with United’s opener against Arsenal last weekend.
In total, he could miss five Red Devils games, although with strugglers Bolton, Fulham and Derby among the opponents, and his team also through to the Champions League knockout phase, it is the Blackburn game where his absence will really be missed.
Louis Saha, a substitute against both Arsenal and Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday, will be first in line to replace him, with Peter Crouch the most likely contender to partner Michael Owen for England.
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