• International football

Rooney withdraws from England squad

ESPN staff
February 26, 2012
Wayne Rooney will miss England's friendly with a throat infection © Getty Images
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Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has been forced to withdraw from the England squad to face the Netherlands due to illness.

Rooney has been struggling with a throat infection in recent days, and was unable to play any part in United's late 2-1 victory over Norwich City at Carrow Road on Sunday.

Ferguson revealed Rooney will not be available for the match due to illness while also confirming midfielder Tom Cleverley will be absent.

"They'll be out,'' he told Sky Sports News after his side's Premier League win at Norwich on Sunday. "Wayne has still not recovered from his throat infection, so hopefully we'll get him ready for next Sunday, when we have a big game at White Hart Lane.''

Cleverley also missed the match against the Canaries after picking up a knock in the midweek Europa League game against Ajax - and the midfielder will now have to wait to pick up his first international cap after he too was forced to pull out of Stuart Pearce's squad.

The pair join Aston Villa's Darren Bent on the sidelines - leaving Pearce with something of an attacking dilemma.

Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge, United's Danny Welbeck and Sunderland's Fraizer Campbell are the three other forwards named in the initial 23-man squad.

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