• World Cup

Rooney and Cole boost England by returning to training

Soccernet staff
June 15, 2010
Wayne Rooney cut a frustrated figure against USA © Getty Images
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England received a boost ahead of their showdown with Algeria as Wayne Rooney and Ashley Cole returned to full training on Tuesday.

The pair missed Monday's session, Cole to do rehabilitation work on old injuries and Rooney with an ankle knock he picked up in the opening World Cup draw against USA.

However the pair were fit enough to return on Tuesday morning as England continued their preparations for Friday's Group C outing against Algeria in Cape Town.

The one absentee was Ledley King. His presence in the remainder of the competition is in doubt after the Tottenham captain was forced out at half-time at the weekend due to a groin injury.

And although club manager Harry Redknapp hinted King could be out for three weeks, the FA have so far refused to speculate on how long the defender will be sidelined.

However, it seems unlikely King will be involved until the semi-finals at the earliest, if England get that far.

Meanwhile, Everton defender Leighton Baines has revealed his "massive disappointment'' at being left out of England's World Cup squad.

"I must admit it was a massive disappointment and something of a surprise even though, like most of the lads in the squad, I knew full well that I wasn't guaranteed a place," he said.

Amid reports that Baines suffers with homesickness, the left back believes that his comments were misrepresented.

"I was feeling low because I knew I hadn't played my best against Mexico and I spoke to a reporter I know about how the game had gone.

"I'd never mentioned the word 'homesick' once. I felt that my comments had been misconstrued and I came across as a bit of a moaner, which is not like me at all.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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