Rooney injury a blow for England

Former England head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson believes that the loss of Wayne Rooney could prove to be an insurmountable blow for England's Euro 2008 qualifying hopes.

he Manchester United striker is out for two months after fracturing a bone in his foot against Reading on Sunday and will miss most if not all of England's remaining European Championship games.

Eriksson, now manager of Manchester City, said although his successor Steve McClaren had other good options there was no one to compare with the 21-year-old.

Eriksson said: "I don't know how many games he will miss for England but I suppose Steve McClaren is not happy about that. It's very, very bad luck - as before the World Cup."

"Of course England have other quality players but it's a simple fact that in this country you don't have two Rooneys, you have only one. There are other good players but Rooney is Rooney and that's it."

Eriksson at least will not to have to plan how to combat Rooney in this weekend's Manchester derby.

But he added: "I feel very sorry for Rooney, he has had a similar injury to before the World Cup last year. It's unlucky and of course it's bad for Manchester United and it's bad for England."