Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has cast fresh doubt on the likelihood of Wayne Rooney playing at this summer's World Cup.

Sven-Goran Eriksson still hopes to pick Rooney in the hope that he will be fit to play in the later stages of the tournament after breaking a bone in his foot at the weekend.

Rooney is expected to be in plaster for six weeks after breaking his foot in Saturday's defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, exactly the time remaining to the first game of England's campaign against Paraguay.

Such is the 20-year-old's importance to the England cause Sven-Goran Eriksson last night suggested he would consider naming Rooney in his 23-man squad even if he felt the striker would only be fit by the knock-out stage, a fortnight after the tournament starts.

But, while not ruling out the possibility completely, Ferguson, who saw David Beckham and Gary Neville suffer similar injuries in the build-up to the 2002 Finals in Japan and Korea, believes such a scenario to be extremely unlikely.

"At first we didn't think it was too bad, but when we sent him for the scan it identified the problem and we realised what a blow it was for the boy and for England," Ferguson told Manchester United Radio.

"Fortunately for us we'll only be without him for two games, but without doubt it's a crippling blow for England.

"I spoke to Wayne on Saturday evening and he was obviously a bit down, but I told him these things happen. You never know but at the moment I doubt he'll take part because of the recovery time."

The problem for Eriksson is it could be six weeks before it is established how Rooney's recovery is going and he could effectively be left with a player in his squad who has no chance of being fit to take part.

Ron Greenwood famously took a similar risk with star men Kevin Keegan and Trevor Brooking in 1982 and the plan backfired when the pair were limited to a substitute role in the final, decisive second group phase encounter with Spain.

With his notoriously fierce club loyalties, Ferguson would probably prefer Rooney not to rush his rehabilitation and make sure he was fit for the start of next season, which will be so crucial to United's chances of wrestling the Premiership title from Chelsea's grasp.

However, the Scot completely understands Rooney's desperation to be involved, and also Eriksson's desire to include the player. And, despite a few spats in the past, Ferguson has vowed to keep the Swede completely up to date with the former Everton forward's progress.

"I've tried to get hold of Sven so I can give him as clear an opinion from us as possible because he'll be reading a lot of stuff in the newspapers," said Ferguson. "We've spoken to the England doctor and I think it's important I give as much as information as I can to Sven to make sure he's absolutely clear on what road he can take.

"Wayne will be in plaster for the next few weeks and he'll be having regular scans to see how it's healing."

Rooney's agony is only compounded by the knowledge it was a similar injury, to the same foot, which ended his participation in Euro 2004.

At least he got to appear in Portugal though and, having already developed into one of the finest talents in the world, Ferguson can understand the £27million man's utter devastation.

"I would think this injury is even more of a killer blow to him because he knows he's missing major tournaments," said Ferguson. "This time round it's even worse because he's more mature and is a more rounded player who has improved dramatically over the last two years. So it's a real, real blow."

The one silver lining for Ferguson is Rooney will now be spared the task of carrying the burden of expectation for an entire nation.

He has already condemned the hysteria surrounding his prize asset and now he feels it is time for the senior players within the England squad to set up to the plate.

"I said a few weeks ago I didn't want to see this kind of pressure on a lad of 20 years of age," stated Ferguson. "Other more experienced players such as David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville, should be taking the mantle.