Sven-Goran Eriksson has declared his intention to keep Wayne Rooney in his World Cup plans until he is told for definite the Manchester United striker cannot play.

Rooney is currently spending two punishing sessions a day in an oxygen chamber in a bid to recover from the broken metatarsal he suffered at Stamford Bridge 10 days ago. Sir Alex Ferguson has pledged the club will do everything possible to get Rooney to Germany but suggested it was a 'forlorn' hope.

And, despite naming Jermain Defoe and Crystal Palace's Andy Johnson on his stand-by list, Eriksson has vowed Rooney will not be pushed out until there is no hope at all. He said: "It would be absolutely crazy of me not to pick Wayne when there was still a chance of him being able to play. I could never justify that."

He added: "Wayne will remain in the squad until I know for sure he cannot play, which I hope will not happen."

Rooney is due for a scan in around two weeks time which will determine the extent of his recovery, and from that whether he will remain part of England's squad for the duration of the tournament.

"Before that scan is done, we have no idea whether he will be there or not," said Eriksson, who confirmed he would have named one striker fewer in his squad had there not been such a major doubt over his talisman.

"I include Joe Cole among my five strikers," he said. "Maybe if Wayne had been fit we would have chosen one less.

"I know there are other injured players, such as Ledley King, who I have not chosen. But we are well covered in the central defensive area whereas I would bet anyone that if they were in my position, they would have chosen Wayne.

"I would not have been doing a very good job if I hadn't."