Former Liverpool and England striker Stan Collymore fears the Three Lions’ World Cup preparations could be thrown into turmoil if forward Wayne Rooney’s toe injury proves to be serious.
The Manchester United hitman misses today’s Premier League trip to Newcastle United and is a major doubt for the Champions League quarter-final, second leg visit to holders Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
While his potential absence next week is a major blow to the Red Devils, with the tie delicately poised at 1-1, Collymore believes England’s hopes of glory at this summer’s tournament will also be dented if the problem is either long-term or in danger of recurring further down the line.
He said on Twitter: “Hopefully Rooney’s toe is short term and that it’s not something recurring. Last thing England need leading into last WC prep. ”Rooney is set to undergo a fitness test in the run-up to Wednesday’s vital clash with the Bavarian giants at the Allianz Arena. Watch Chelsea v Stoke on Saturday and Arsenal v Everton, West Ham v Liverpool on Sunday.