The England Head Coach will not know until tomorrow the full extent of Rooney’s injury, suffered playing for Manchester United against Chelsea at the weekend.

But he has confirmed speculation that the striker has suffered more than one fracture in his foot.

"It’s a serious injury and I will be updated tomorrow because our doctor is going up to Manchester tomorrow. I will know a little bit more then," he said.

"I knew yesterday it was more than one fracture. I really don’t know what difference that makes. But I’m not that pessimistic like other people.

"I might pick him, but he’s going to stay in Manchester to do all the recoveries and he’s going to stay there until he is football fit. I think that’s fair. He is staying at home working with physios and masseurs and everything up in Manchester."

When asked if Rooney stood any chance of playing in the World Cup Finals, Eriksson remained optimistic.

"I think so, miracles happen in life now and then," he said, at a press conference organised by England sponsors Carlsberg.

But he admits replacing Rooney if he is not fit would be almost impossible.

"You can’t replace Wayne Rooney because he’s unique," said Sven.

"I should be stupid if I didn’t say that it’s bad news if he can’t play in the World Cup, of course it is. It’s like Brazil missing Ronaldinho or France missing Henry. He’s one of our absolute best players. But we have a very good squad and I’m convinced that we’re going to do a very good World Cup anyhow.

"And I will not rule him out until the doctors are telling me there is no chance. Everyone hopes he can take part in the World Cup if you are a fan a coach or a player.

"Probably I will name him in the squad on Monday. It will be 26 or maybe 27 players. But three or four of those players will know they are reserves."

Sven has already started thinking seriously about how to adjust his team to cope with Rooney’s absence, at least for the three pre-World Cup friendlies coming up in the next month.

"We have discussed it a lot," he said. "But you have to wait to see about Michael Owen first. It might be possible to change formation or the shape but we have a lot of time for that.

"If you take away Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney you have Bent, Defoe, Crouch. But I’m quite sure that Michael is going to be fit. About Wayne Rooney you can't be sure because nobody knows today."