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SPECIAL REPORT
In a statement released on the club's Web site Saturday night,
United said Rooney had "a fracture of the base of the fourth
metatarsal on his right foot" and that he will be out for six weeks.
That diagnosis means he will be sidelined until the start of the
World Cup, which starts June 9. Rooney was expected to be England's
strongest player at the World Cup in Germany.
The 20-year-old Rooney grimaced in pain and clutched his right foot
after a challenge by defender Paulo Ferreira 10 minutes from the end
of United's 3-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge.
"He's got a heavy knock," United manager Alex Ferguson said after
the game.
Rooney traveled back to Manchester with his teammates before heading
straight to a private hospital, where the injury was diagnosed.
 Rooney fractured a metatarsal
in the 2004 European Championships quarterfinal against Portugal and
was out of action for three months.
With England's opening World Cup game against Paraguay on June 10,
coach Sven-Goran Eriksson faces a serious problem.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, whose team retained the Premier
League title by beating second-place United, said he felt scared for
Rooney, whose earlier challenge on John Terry had left the England
defender hobbling with a gashed leg.
"I think England needs the boy, the World Cup needs the boy,"
Mourinho said. "I know Paulo didn't touch him and the worst injuries
are the ones without contact. The Rooney tackle on JT (Terry) was a
nasty one, but 10 stitches and he will be ready again."
Michael Owen, another key player for England, played the last 30
minutes of Newcastle's 0-0 tie with Birmingham City. He was limping
near the end. It was his first game since breaking his right foot on
New Year's Eve.
Team officials said he would see a specialist on Monday.
"When he (Owen) came in, he said he was a little bit concerned — he
wasn't quite 100 percent happy with it," Newcastle manager Glenn
Roeder said. "But no sharp pain.
"The thought of Rooney and Owen not playing for England is not worth
thinking about."
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