MUFC
20-06-2006, 07:57 PM
Gary Neville will have a scan on his injured calf on Wednesday as hopes of the full-back returning to World Cup action appear to be fading.The Manchester United full-back has already been ruled out of Tuesday's final Group B encounter against Sweden with the injury suffered in training five days ago ahead of the clash with Trinidad and Tobago.
Boss Sven-Goran Eriksson had been optimistic at the weekend of the 31-year-old being ready to participate at the second round stage when he said: "I don't think he will play against Sweden but he should be ready after that."
But now the England coach is "not sure" whether Neville can make a comeback at that juncture of the tournament.
Neville looked a disconsolate figure sitting in the team dug-out while his team-mates went through their final training session before facing the Swedes.
The fact he is not even able to do any running with the last-16 clashes only five or possibly six days away, depending where England finish in their group, is not an encouraging sign.
Eriksson said: "Gary Neville has not started running yet. He will have a scan on Wednesday. It will decide if he can start running or not.
"Will he play in the second round? We hope so - but we are not sure. Hopefully he will do running on Wednesday or Thursday but let's see what the scan says."
Neville can be forgiven if he is feeling downcast after missing the 2002 finals in Japan because of a broken metatarsal.
He was also affected by a hamstring problem in the build-up to the World Cup and had to be substituted at half-time in the friendly international against Hungary at Old Trafford three weeks ago.
Boss Sven-Goran Eriksson had been optimistic at the weekend of the 31-year-old being ready to participate at the second round stage when he said: "I don't think he will play against Sweden but he should be ready after that."
But now the England coach is "not sure" whether Neville can make a comeback at that juncture of the tournament.
Neville looked a disconsolate figure sitting in the team dug-out while his team-mates went through their final training session before facing the Swedes.
The fact he is not even able to do any running with the last-16 clashes only five or possibly six days away, depending where England finish in their group, is not an encouraging sign.
Eriksson said: "Gary Neville has not started running yet. He will have a scan on Wednesday. It will decide if he can start running or not.
"Will he play in the second round? We hope so - but we are not sure. Hopefully he will do running on Wednesday or Thursday but let's see what the scan says."
Neville can be forgiven if he is feeling downcast after missing the 2002 finals in Japan because of a broken metatarsal.
He was also affected by a hamstring problem in the build-up to the World Cup and had to be substituted at half-time in the friendly international against Hungary at Old Trafford three weeks ago.