That is hardly likely to sit well with the Manchester United manager, who has sought to play down expectations of Rooney travelling to the finals this summer. More should become clear when Leif Sward, the England team doctor, meets his United counterparts in Manchester today, although tensions between club and country may persist for as long as Rooney has any chance of going to the World Cup.

The nation appears to have accepted the worst, putting so much money on Rooney staying at home that bookmakers suspended betting yesterday. Even Eriksson talked of needing “a miracle”. And though Rooney has not ruled out answering that prayer, he seemed to be preparing for the worst last night when he collected the United supporters’ player-of-the-year award on crutches.

“I was disappointed to get injured, but life goes on and hopefully I can get as fit as I can be,” Rooney said. “Everyone at the club is disappointed for me, but I’ve had great support from everyone. I’m a strong lad and hopefully I can get myself back fit.

“It’s very important to stay focused. I’m a young lad and any player wants to play in the World Cup. I’m the same and I’ve got to be strong. But if it’s not to be, then I’m sure I’ll have a lot more tournaments to play after this one. Hopefully I can get back for this one, but it’s not the end of the world.

“Obviously I know football is a physical game and I know injuries happen. Unfortunately it has happened at a bad time for me, but hopefully I can come back from this and get myself fit and, you never know, hopefully I can make it.”

It is not yet clear whether the fact that Rooney sustained more than one fracture to the fourth metatarsal in his right foot will affect his recovery time, although six weeks remains the absolute minimum for him to be back in full training.

The attention on one player, albeit a wonderfully talented one, threatens to overshadow England’s preparations for the tournament, but, while Ferguson will resent the daily frenzy, Eriksson prefers that to a final, bleak bulletin that says Rooney must watch it from home.

“I don’t want to hear the words ‘definitely out’,” Eriksson said. “If we think he can make part of the World Cup he will be in, and why shouldn’t he? You don’t want to rule out Rooney until it is 100 per cent sure. It is like Brazil losing Ronaldinho or France losing Thierry Henry.”

Eriksson was at Stamford Bridge on Saturday and watched Rooney being taken off on a stretcher. Asked what went through his mind, he responded with one word: “S***”. For once, he could not be accused of failing to catch the country’s mood.

Depending on what he hears from the doctors today, Eriksson plans to name Rooney in his squad on Monday. The forward will stay in Manchester, although Fifa, the world governing body, confirmed yesterday that he would have to fly to Germany with the rest of the party on June 5. It raises the prospect of Rooney and his back-up flying out and one coming home on June 9.

The Swede has a few medical issues to resolve before he announces his squad of 23, plus three or four on standby. He is confident about the fitness of Michael Owen, even though the Newcastle United forward complained of pain in his foot after his comeback game on Saturday. “I spoke to Michael yesterday and he will be fit,” Eriksson said. “Match-fit, we don’t know, but he will be fit.”