An ankle injury picked up at Ibrox in Everton's 3-2 win over Scottish Champions Rangers on Saturday threatened to rule Rooney out of action for sometime, but on Tuesday, Moyes gave Everton and England the boost they were looking for.

"Hopefully the injury doesn't keep him out too much and I would say there's still an outside chance he could be available for the first game of the season."

But Moyes is still acting with caution and does not want to rush the 17 year-old back too quickly. However, Rooney is responding well to an intensive rehabilitation regime raising hopes that he could recover quicker than first expected.

"It's quite a bad twist he's got and we expect him to be out for four weeks, but knowing the boy there's a chance he could be back much sooner than that.

"He will do lots of cycling and swimming until he can bear weight on the ankle again," Moyes added.

"But he has done all the pre-season work. He's got that behind him and is already in good shape."

 

Meanwhile, after a pre-season tour of Scandinavia with Aston Villa, fellow England forward Darius Vassell says he just wants to have his name on the teamsheet and is happy to play anywhere.

Operating as a left winger for the majority of the friendly campaign for O'Leary's men, the 23-year old said: "I don't mind as long as I am in the starting 11. The manager has told me he may need me in different positions."