SOMETHING unusual will happen when England continue their World Cup preparations at Old Trafford tonight - a game of football will break out.

Amid all the hysteria that accompanies every twist and turn in the Wayne Rooney saga, it easy to forget that there are 22 other players preparing for a World Cup finals. At the moment, the squad's preparations are more like an episode of Casualty than a build-up to the biggest football tournament in the world.

While Rooney was not even present as his team-mates were being put through their paces in Manchester yesterday, the stricken striker was still able to dominate the nation's thoughts.

After an early-morning meeting that involved both Sven-Goran Eriksson and Sir Alex Ferguson, as well as medical representatives from both the England and Manchester United camps, Rooney's second scan on his broken metatarsal was brought forward a week to June 7.

The change of date is significant, as FIFA's final deadline for changing squads because of injury is June 9.

Whereas previously, Eriksson would have been taking Rooney to Germany on something of a wing and a prayer ahead of a scheduled scan on June 14, now he will be able to jettison the 20-year-old at the last minute if things are not running to plan.

Despite mounting evidence to the contrary, the Swede insists this is not the case and maintains that Rooney remains on track to play at least some part in this summer's finals.

If the signals emanating from Old Trafford are anything to go by, though, Wednesday's medical update could signal the end of the striker's World Cup dream.

Yesterday's latest statement from the United camp revealed that Rooney's fracture involves the "joint" in his right foot, potentially making it even more problematic than was first thought.

In addition, it is difficult to see why Eriksson would be so keen to bring the scan forward, and risk totally overshadowing his side's Group B opener against Paraguay on June 10, if he did not regard the striker's removal from the squad as a distinct possibility.

"It has been agreed that Manchester are doing the scan on the 7th instead of the 14th," explained the England boss, who also distanced himself from suggestions he had agreed a deal to take control of Spanish giants Real Madrid next season. "They might do one on the 14th as well, but the first one will be on the 7th.

"It was my request and United understood the situation and accepted it. The reason we are doing it is because I have to give the list to FIFA on the 9th and, after that, we can't change. It's good to have the scan on the 7th because we will have a better idea of what the future will be.

"I'm always positive and optimistic about it, and I don't think anything has changed. I was in the medical meeting with Sir Alex listening to the Manchester United doctor, the England doctor and the specialist and I don't think there has been anything new at all.

"Will he kick a ball at the World Cup? Yes. I believe so. I always told you that. You have feelings sometimes and I think he will take part."

Yet while yesterday's events have given Eriksson an escape policy after he selected a squad containing just four strikers - one of which is international novice Theo Walcott - it also risks further undermining his squad's preparations after they have arrived at their World Cup base in Baden Baden.

Rooney is expected to travel to Germany with the rest of the squad on Monday and, assuming that the time scale of his latest scan follows the pattern established by the first, the results will not be known until June 8, just 48 hours before England play their opening match of the tournament in Frankfurt.

Yesterday's media circus was unsettling enough for the England boss, who claimed the rest of his squad were beginning to tire of the constant focus on their injured team-mate.

Compared to the furore that would accompany his possible demotion, though, it was positively serene. A more frenzied response would hardly be beneficial just two days before the Paraguay game.

"I think it will be a distraction if it goes on from now until we leave for Germany," admitted Eriksson. "Wayne Rooney is one of the best football players in the world - I agree with that. But, at a certain point, we have to remember that we have 22 other players in the squad and some more on standby.

"But of course I will wait as long as possible - I would be very stupid if I did not do that."

And while he waits, Eriksson continues to ponder what life without Rooney would be like.

The Swede has two strikers on his standby list - Jermain Defoe and Andy Johnson - and the former's international experience makes him the more likely addition to the squad should next week's news be bad.

After scoring the winner in 2004's crucial World Cup qualifying game in Poland, the Tottenham striker is hardly an unknown quantity on the international stage.

But despite maintaining that this evening's starting line-up against Hungary is likely to be the side that kicks off against Paraguay in 11 days time, Eriksson is almost certain to re mind himself of Defoe's qualities at some stage.

At the very least, the Londoner can expect to be involved when England take on Jamaica in their final World Cup warm-up game on Saturday.

"When we start the game (tonight), it is what we currently think might start against Paraguay," said Eriksson, who is likely to take all of his standby players to Germany with him next week. "Maybe you will see the standby strikers at some stage though - I haven't decided that yet.

"We haven't decided anything about the substitutes for this game because most of the players can play for 90 minutes.

"For that reason, it is an important game. We are close to the World Cup - less than two weeks - so I want us to defend and attack well."

And, needless to say, steer clear of injuries.