Source: Daily_Mail
Wayne Rooney's KO rocks England: Fabio Capello loses 'incredible' Manchester United star
Wayne Rooney is out of England's World Cup clash with Belarus at Wembley on Wednesday, dealing a serious blow to Fabio Capello's desire for a victory to end the qualifying campaign in style.[LNB]Rooney suffered a calf strain during Saturday's 1-0 defeat against Ukraine and was released back to Manchester United from England's training base in Hertfordshire on Sunday. [LNB]He will undergo a scan today. The striker's absence will be greatly felt by Capello after he put in a magnificent display and was named man of the match on a controversial night at the Dnipro Arena.[LNB] Injured in action: Wayne Rooney will miss the final World Cup qualifier againstBelarus[LNB]England suffered their first defeat in Group Six, but Rooney impressed throughout.[LNB]He did his best to inspire his teammates to battle their way back into the game despite being a man down for 77 minutes following Robert Green's sending-off. [LNB]The striker lasted the entire game, but at a cost. He will now hope to be fit for Manchester United's Premier League clash with Bolton on Saturday and as well as the Champions League match at CSKA Moscow the following Wednesday. [LNB]The news will concern United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, still holidaying in America, because Michael Owen resumed training only on Tuesday after a groin injury, leaving just Dimitar Berbatov as a match-fit striker.[LNB]Capello, meanwhile, underlined Rooney's importance when he said: 'He doesn't liketo lose, like me. He's an incredible player.'[LNB] All-action hero: Rooney's performance was one of few highlights in the Dnipro Arena[LNB]Unless injury hits one of his other four strikers, Capello is thought unlikely to call in a replacement, looking instead to take the chance to experiment with his front line.[LNB]An Aston Villa pairing of Emile Heskey and Gabriel Agbonlahor is a possibility, while Carlton Cole will be desperate for another chance to impress after a disappointing substitute display against Ukraine. [LNB]Peter Crouch, not even on the bench on Saturday, will also be keen for a chance to shine. [LNB]Another option for Capello is to move Steven Gerrard forward. He received the all-clear to stay with the England party despite lasting only until half-time on Saturday.[LNB]The chance to win a 58th cap would be well-received by Heskey, who may be prepared to seek a move from Villa if a lack of first-team action jeopardises his WorldCup place. [LNB]Although the forward has remained in favour with Capello, the Italian demands that his players perform regularly for their clubs. Heskey has started only once for Villa this season. [LNB] Failing to hit the heights: Heskey struggles against Evhen Khacheridi[LNB]After his stuttering display on Saturday, he admitted he might have to engineer a moveshould the situation remain unchanged under Martin O'Neill. [LNB]Heskey switched from Wigan to Villa in January, with a major motivation being the opportunity to enhance his hopes of staying in contention for England's 23-man World Cup squad.[LNB]He said: 'Not playing at club level is difficult and it's something I will have to look atwhen I get back and try to address it. [LNB]'You always think about those kind of things and, like I said, I will just have to try toaddress it when the time is right. I'm never going to give up. It's just another hurdle I have to get over.'[LNB]Asked why he is struggling to command a place at Villa Park, he said: 'You would have to ask the manager. I wouldn't know.'[LNB] Another player concerned for his World Cup place is David Beckham who, forthe first time in 13 years of international football, did not even secure a place on the England bench. [LNB]Beckham, understandably, was said to be disappointed but Capello insisted that he remained an important member of the squad. [LNB]'We have 24 players,' he said. 'If David is here it is because he is important for the best 24 in this moment. [LNB]'But I have to decide 18 players, 11 on the pitch and seven on the bench. They can play 15 minutes. All the players are important.'[LNB] Chin up, David: Beckham's grizzly demeanour suggested he'd had a hairy journey from Los Angeles to Ukraine. The trip to Dnipropetrovsk had covered 10,515km (that's 6,533 miles!) and he didn't even make the bench. Just as long as he's razor sharp for the Belarus game...[LNB] Ukraine will get burned by FIFA after England flare nightmareUkraine 1 England 0: Fabio Capello gives referee a rocket as Wayne Rooney is England's bright sparkRio woe will put fears into Fabio: Ferdinand's mental lapses proving costlyUkraine v England: Player ratings - who was hot and who frozePicture special: Ukraine v England - Rio sees red but it's Green for go[LNB]
