Everton's teenage prodigy Wayne Rooney will miss the start of the Premieship season after damaging his ankle ligaments during yesterday's friendly against Rangers.
The 17-year-old, who was carried off on a stretcher after falling awkwardly in the first half of Saturday's 3-2 win at Ibrox, has ligament damage and will be out for a month.
He will therefore miss the start of the new season on August 16th - when Everton visit Arsenal - and England's friendly against Croatia at Portman Road four days later.
"Wayne had an x-ray in Liverpool on Saturday night and fortunately there was no obvious break," Everton's head physio Mick Rathbone told the premier league club's website.
"He has been for an MR scan this morning and visited a consultant who reviewed the information and confirmed the diagnosis as damaged ankle ligaments.
"He will return to see the specialist in 12 days' time and we anticipate that he will be out for around four weeks."
Rooney will stay at Everton's Bellefield training ground for intensive rehabilitation, while the rest of his team mates continue their pre-season preparations in Scotland.