"I don't want my players talking about Wayne Rooney's foot or injury. I hope you respect that."

Eriksson, in terse mood and clearly fed up with the media circus that has surrounded Rooney's injury for the past six weeks, then stood up and left the news conference.

Despite Eriksson's request, England's players could not conceal their delight at Rooney's return and the prospect of him playing at the finals.

Captain David Beckham told a news conference: "It's nice that all the squad now are fit and back in training... we're all happy he's back training with us."

Beckham, who suffered a broken metatarsal like Rooney's before the 2002 World Cup, was asked about coming back from such an injury to match fitness.

"There are always difficulties, because when you haven't played for a while and you've had an injury like a broken bone it is tough.

"I know you're talking about Wayne, but he's done fitness tests the same as the lads have done and his fitness levels are up there with the rest of us.

"He'll play when he feels like he's ready and that will obviously be down to the management."

ROONEY BUZZING

Midfielder Steven Gerrard, Rooney's friend and a fellow Liverpudlian, was more forthright.

"What I can say is he's really buzzing over getting the all-clear and so is the rest of the squad.

"It's great news for him to get the all-clear -- now we need to get him match fit as the manager said.

"I think we need to be patient with that because you can't really throw a player into a World Cup game who is not really match fit."

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