U.K is praying for Wayne Rooney

ENGLAND were facing their biggest World Cup nightmare last night as Wayne Rooney suffered a major injury scare.

Rooney in trouble

Rooney is lumping

Rooney in bad shape

The nation’s most important striker limped off in agony as Manchester United were stunned by Bayern Munich in a Champions League cliffhanger.

Rooney hobbled away from the Allianz Arena on crutches with his ankle in a protective plastic cast. He will have an MRI scan today.

It is news which will send shivers down England boss Fabio Capello’s spine – and is also a potentially devastating blow for United.

The Red Devils will almost certainly be without Rooney for Saturday’s Premier League title showdown with Chelsea.

And there appears little chance Rooney will be fit for the return match against Bayern next Wednesday, with United already trailing 2-1 after Ivica Olic’s dramatic late winner.

Rooney crumpled to the ground in pain during injury time after a challenge by Bayern striker Mario Gomez.

He needed to be helped from the pitch and, if there is damage to his ligaments, he could be out for up to six weeks – meaning he will miss the end to the season.

United boss Alex Ferguson said: “Wayne has hurt his ankle. It’s too early to say the condition of it but we will know tomorrow.”

Capello and the entire country will now be left praying the injury will not keep Rooney out of the World Cup with two months still to go before the tournament starts.

It is the 12th significant foot or ankle injury the striker has suffered in his career – and there are already growing concerns over a knee problem he is carrying.

The night had started well for Roon

ey who gave United the lead in this quarter-final first-leg tie before he deflected in a Franck Ribery free-kick for Bayern’s leveller and then Olic struck late on.

Bookies reacted to Rooney’s injury by changing the odds on England winning the World Cup from 5-1 to 6-1.

Tags: english football in danger, rooney injured ahead of worldcup, worldcup nightmare for england