Source: Eurosport
Injured Rooney out
Wayne Rooney has pulled out of England's World Cup qualifier with Belarus on Wednesday. [LNB] The Manchester United forward picked up a calf strain during Saturday's 1-0 defeat away to Ukraine. [LNB] After having the injury assessed at England's training base in Hertfordshire, he has been released back to the Old Trafford club.[LNB] The news is a shock because if anyone was expected to pull out, it had been Rooney's close friend, and Liverpool skipper, Steven Gerrard. [LNB] Whereas Gerrard only lasted until half-time at the Dnipro Arena yesterday, Rooney got through the entire game, turning in a impressive display for an England side that was reduced to 10 men after 15 minutes following the dismissal of Robert Green. [LNB] But whereas Gerrard has been given the all-clear to remain with the England camp for the final match of a successful Group Six campaign, Rooney must now undergo treatment in the hope of being fit for United's Premier League encounter with Bolton. [LNB] Unless injury hits one of his other four strikers, Capello is unlikely to call in a replacement. [LNB] The Italian has the option of pushing Gerrard into a more advanced position, which he plays in so successfully for Liverpool. [LNB] Alternatively, he could pair Carlton Cole with Emile Heskey, or possibly Aston Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor, who was an unused substitute yesterday.
