DOCTOR BECKHAM

David Beckham stepped into the role of student doctor yesterday to deliver his own verdict on Wayne Rooney's fitness chances, saying he believed the Manchester United striker still had a "very good" chance of defying medical opinion to play in the World Cup.

Quite what Beckham based his information on he did not make clear:

"When you break a bone it's hard to come back from that. Everything so far looks pretty good, though, and hopefully he can play while he's over there. Wayne's chances of making it are very good."

His optimism is not necessarily shared by the medical staff at United, particularly after it emerged that there have been complications in the healing process. Rooney has, however, been allowed to start light jogging. He will fly back from England's Bavarian base next Wednesday for what could be a decisive hospital scan.

Given that he only returned from his last broken foot after 3 months, any hope of him appearing at the World Cup is all but non-existent.