MANCHESTER, May 30: England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson fears his World Cup squad will be distracted over the media obsession with Wayne Rooney's broken foot. Eriksson is still confident the Manchester United striker will play some part in the World Cup, but he has requested his next CT scan be brought forward seven days to June 7.

That's two days before the FIFA deadline for replacing an injured player and three days before England's first game against Paraguay.

''Of course I wait as long as possible,'' Eriksson said. ''I should be very stupid if not.''

Both Eriksson and United manager Alex Ferguson were present at a meeting between England and Manchester United's medical teams on Monday.

''My request to do it before (May) ninth is a fair request,'' Eriksson said. ''If we had to wait until the 14th, I can't do anything. So it's better to do before, it might be early but hopefully good indications.''

When asked if he thought Rooney would kick a ball at the World Cup, Eriksson answered, ''Yes. Nothing has changed for me. I always think he would play.

''I'm not a doctor, I'm supposed to be a manager, but you have feelings sometimes.''

England defender Rio Ferdinand said Rooney was in good spirits despite being ruled out of England's three group games.

''I think he's just living in hope,'' Ferdinand said. ''When it first happened, he was hoping that he'd be fit. Medically, he has to wait and see what the people say but he's like everybody else, like you guys, like myself, like the fans_ he's hoping to be fit.''

Rooney broke the fourth metatarsal bone on a joint in his right foot on April 29 while playing for Manchester United against Chelsea. Eriksson said he was tiring of the focus on Rooney's recovery.

''I will not speak about Wayne Rooney at every press conference I am doing,'' he said.

When asked if the focus on the striker was a distraction, Eriksson said: ''Yeah, I think so, if it goes on from now on until we leave for Germany, yes I agree to you.''

On Thursday, a scan ruled Rooney out of England's Group B games against Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, and Sweden. The earliest it was thought he could be available would be the second round _ if England advances.

If Rooney is ruled out on June 7, either Andrew Johnson or Jermain Defoe will be called up to join Michael Owen, Peter Crouch and 17-year-old rookie Theo Walcott as strikers in the England squad.

Johnson, who will play at Everton next season, has only two caps. Tottenham's Defoe has played 16 times for England. Eriksson wouldn't say which one he preferred.

England plays Hungary in a warmup match at Old Trafford on Tuesday and Eriksson said he would use the lineup which would play against Paraguay. However, he hinted that the formation might not involve Owen and Crouch up front.

''We could start with Crouch and Owen and we can start in another way as well. You'll see.''

England plays Jamaica in its final warmup match on Saturday before traveling to its World Cup base in Baden-Baden, Germany next Monday.—AP