Rooney fractures foot in opener

England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is facing a spell on the sidelines after suffering a hairline fracture of his left foot.

He lasted only 45 minutes of United's Premier League opener against Reading after Royals defender Michael Duberry accidentally landed on his foot.

It is a blow for United but also casts doubt on whether Rooney, 21, will be fit for England's Euro 2008 qualifiers. England face Russia on 8 September and Israel on 12 September.

And England manager Steve McClaren is virtually certain to be without Rooney for the friendly against Germany, which is pencilled in for 22 August. United will be devastated to lose Rooney at the start of the season, with fellow forwards Carlos Tevez and Louis Saha short of match fitness.

Winger Nani replaced Rooney in the second half against Reading, with boss Sir Alex Ferguson forced to play defender John O'Shea as an emergency striker. And Ferguson revealed afterwards that he felt Rooney's absence cost the reigning Premier League champions victory.

Initially, Ferguson had played down the seriousness of the injury, saying he did not think it was as bad as when Rooney broke his metatarsal in April 2006, but a scan confirmed the latest problem.

Last year's injury led to Rooney being out for nearly seven weeks and effectively ruined his World Cup. Both Ferguson and McClaren will be praying Rooney does not face a similar fate this time.

Ferguson said after United's draw with Reading: "It was a painful blow and Wayne could not really stand on his foot. I do not think it is as serious an injury as when he broke his metatarsal. "But his foot did start to swell and it was not worth starting him in the second half."

source: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/