Baden Baden (Germany): England striker Wayne Rooney will fly to Manchester later on Wednesday to discover his World Cup fate after a scan on his broken foot.
Coach Sven Goran Eriksson, his squad and a footballing nation are hoping for good news of the hugely gifted Manchester United forward who fractured a metatarsal on April 29.
Eriksson is upbeat that Rooney's fitness and willpower will enable the 20-year-old to play his part in their campaign, which starts on Saturday against Group B rivals Paraguay.
"I've always said ‘I think he will be available,’ that he will take part in the World Cup and I still believe it very, very strongly," Eriksson said.
His optimism also reflected the sight of Rooney beginning Tuesday's session with the rest of the squad before going off to continue his rehabilitation in the glare of the world's media.
The fond hope is that medical experts will give Rooney a bill of health clean enough for him to play in the second round or quarter-finals, if England get that far.
However, the Swede faces an anxious wait for news after Rooney leaves for England aboard a private jet. "I think the scan is in the afternoon," said Eriksson.
"I'm sure the doctor will phone me as soon as he knows something. If that will be late Wednesday or early Thursday I don't know, it's up to the doctors."
"I look forward to the point where we don't discuss Rooney's foot any more, very much so."
Even the England teammates who want him back are keen to put his injury saga to one side.
Defender Gary Neville, one of the elder statesmen, said: "We haven't got him for Saturday, I know that, so that's all we've got to concentrate on and focus our minds on.
"I know there's a great interest in Wayne Rooney throughout the country and that's not going to stop.
"But it really is important we focus on Paraguay as a team and not focus on players who aren't there and can't play. We all hope he takes part in the World Cup but I'm sure that will be decided tomorrow after his scan."
If things go badly, Eriksson will promote Jermain Defoe, who is at their Baden Baden base on standby.
Goalkeeper Paul Robinson was sympathetic to the fate of his Tottenham Hotspur teammate.
"It's difficult but if you look at Jermain, he's been very professional about it," Robinson said.
"He's come out this week knowing there's every chance he might not be in the final squad. He's been very professional and he's looked very, very sharp in the last couple of weeks."
"He's gone about his business as usual and he's scored a lot of goals in training."
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