Rooney absence adds to England injury crisis

Any hope that Wayne Rooney could put his off-the-pitch troubles to one side and get his playing career back on track will have to wait, as Sir Alex Ferguson has ruled him out until the middle of next month - meaning that he will miss England's Euro 2012 qualifier with Montenegro on October 12.

An ankle problem which he had been carrying for two weeks up until his uninspiring performance against Bolton is to blame and he now he faces two to three weeks on the sidelines.

The United boss will at least reflect that the break should give him time away from the spotlight to rebuild his marriage after claims he cheated on his wife Coleen with prostitutes while she was pregnant.

 
The tabloid frenzy surrounding Rooney has taken its toll on him and 24-year-old has had a dreadful campaign so far, scoring just one goal, which came from the penalty spot. Fortunately for United they have Dimitar Berbatov who has has been knocking them in for fun in Rooney's stead and is the Premier League's leading marksman with six goals.

But England boss Fabio Capello has no such luck, and Rooney is just the latest of several senior players to be ruled out of England's next European qualifying match on October 12.

His other favoured strikers, Jermain Defoe and Bobby Zamora are also out injured leaving Darren Bent and Peter Crouch as his only obvious attacking options.

Capello has problems elsewhere on the pitch as Frank Lampard is still unfit and James Milner suspended for the game. Theo Walcott is also unlikely to be fit in time. At the back Rio Ferdinand still has some way to go before completely overcoming his long term knee and back injuries and Michael Dawson is a long term absentee.

But although he missing one United striker, could another of Ferguson's lieutenants be the man to solve Fabio Capello's attacking dilemma?

Michael Owen has scored three times in his last two games and it is not beyond the realms of possibility that he could finally return from the international wilderness and lead England's front line if Capello decides he needs a poacher in his armoury. ·