Sven-Goran Eriksson is 'optimistic' Wayne Rooney could play some part for England against Trinidad and Tobago.
Eriksson will not rule out the idea of Rooney returning against the Caribbean minnows in Nuremberg on Thursday.Asked whether Rooney would appear, the England boss said: 'I'm very optimistic, always. I'm born like that.
'We have to decide that day by day, to be honest.'
Rooney, 20, returned to full training last Thursday after a foot scan showed his broken metatarsal bone was healed.
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will be furious if his striker does make his World Cup debut against Trinidad and Tobago.
Ferguson wanted Eriksson to keep Rooney wrapped in cotton wool until the knock-out stages of the World Cup but the pair did not agree.
Instead, Eriksson said Rooney would play as soon as he was 'match-fit'.
The England boss promised to invite an independent expert to look at Rooney's fitness before he played.
This was in an attempt to placate Ferguson and prove he was not taking an undue risk with the player's long-term fitness, but it is unlikely to soothe United's fury.
Rooney trained today, along with the other England players not heavily involved in yesterday's 1-0 win against Paraguay.
Rio Ferdinand said his United and England team-mate Rooney was 'desperate' to play in the World Cup.
England fans are clearly impatient to see him back on the pitch.
Supporters chanted Rooney's name during the second half of the Paraguay game but Eriksson will not be influenced by their calls.
The England boss said: 'It can't have an effect on me. I have my coaches, my fitness coach and my physios and we have decide together: 'Okay it's time'.'
England's winning start to their World Cup campaign eased the pressure on Eriksson to rush Rooney back into action.
Sweden's surprise draw with Trinidad and Tobago means a win for England against the Caribbean islanders will clinch a place in the knock-out rounds.
This can hopefully be done without Rooney but Eriksson may seize the chance to bring him on as sub to give him some match practice.
England's patchy display against the Paraguayans did not send shockwaves across Germany but Eriksson insists there is plenty of time for his team to find the right rhythm.
He said: 'I'm not worried. It's the first game. Everybody thinks it's easy, that you just go out there and beat them and that's it.
'Paraguay are a team with the same quality as Ecuador. They came third and fourth in South America and you don't dominate the 90 minutes. They have a good team.'
England started well against the Paraguayans and took a third-minute lead with an own-goal but the sweltering heat of Frankfurt in mid-afternoon took its toll and they faded.
Eriksson said: 'In the first half, we did very well and if we had scored a second goal - and we had the chance - it would have been different second half as well.
'But we have the three points and I'm very happy with that.
'We have a very good team and we will play better football than we did here.
'Next game is six o'clock and Sweden is nine o'clock. That's very good for us.'
