LONDON, May 20: England striker Wayne Rooney is recovering from a minor injury but will be fully fit for his expected return during the group stages at Euro 2012, manager Roy Hodgson has revealed.

Rooney is suspended for England’s opening Group D games against France and Sweden but is likely to come back into Hodgson’s starting line-up for the final first round match against Ukraine.

Hodsgon revealed that the 26-year-old Manchester United star would be excused from next week’s friendly against Norway in Oslo before linking up with England on May 29 for their final warm-up game against Belgium on June 2.

“Wayne has been playing with a minor injury for the last three or four games which needed a couple of weeks to clear up,” said Hodgson.

“He won’t be involved in the Norway game and I don’t know whether I will select him for Belgium at this stage.

“The fitness side doesn’t bother me. If he needs a bit of topping up we will do that.”—AFP