And the winner is: Rooney and Milner pick up their awards‘I’m hoping to play for United in the last game of the season.’
Wayne Rooney, who was last night named the PFA’s Player of the Year, has given England coach Fabio Capello a boost by declaring he will overcome his groin injury long before the World Cup.
Capello had been sweating on the fitness of his two most important players — Rooney and captain Rio Ferdinand, who continues to struggle with a combination of back and groin problems.
But Rooney said last night: ‘The groin will be fine for the World Cup, there are no worries about that.
Both Rooney and Ferdinand missed Manchester United’s victory over Tottenham on Saturday. Rooney injured his groin as a result of over-compensating to protect the ankle he damaged in the first leg of United’s Champions League quarter-final tie with Bayern Munich.
Capello got another fillip when Ashley Cole returned to Chelsea’s starting line-up yesterday after finally recovering from a broken ankle, easing the national coach’s concerns about left back, and in particular whether Wayne Bridge can be persuaded to change his mind about missing the World Cup.
The England coach has enlisted the help of Roberto Mancini and Manchester City’s England players in trying to convince Bridge that he should travel to South Africa despite the hurt of John Terry’s affair with his ex-fiancee, Vanessa Perroncel.
I'll be fit: Rooney has assured Fabio Capello he will be fit for the World CupIn the PFA vote Rooney’s selection, ahead of fellow nominees Cesc Fabregas, Carlos Tevez and Didier Drogba, means that Manchester United have supplied the winner of the prestigious award for a fourth successive year.
The 24-year-old, who has scored 34 goals for United and eight for England this season, said: ‘It’s a great feeling to win the award because it’s voted for by the players.
‘I remember coming here in 2005 and 2006 to win the young player of the year. I saw the players winning the main one and it’s something I’ve aimed for since.’
Aston Villa winger James Milner is the PFA’s Young Player of the Year, boosting his hopes of selection to England’s World Cup squad.
source: dailymail
