The scan which will make-or-break Wayne Rooney's World Cup has been brought forward to June 7.
The 20-year-old was due to fly out to Germany with the England squad next Monday before returning to Manchester 10 days later to have the CT scan which would determine whether or not he will be able to take any part in the competition.
However, following a meeting between Alex Ferguson, Sven-Goran Eriksson and the medical teams of both England and Manchester United at the Premiership's Carrington training complex this morning it has been decided to bring the scan forward by seven days.
The move, which means Rooney will not now travel to England's training base in Baden-Baden on Monday, offers Eriksson the flexibility to bring in a replacement if it is decided the £27million star is not fit enough to participate in his first World Cup.
'Following a meeting today between England's medical team and Manchester United's medical team with both managers present it has been agreed to obtain a further precautionary CT scan on June 7 in order to help the England management to make a decision (on Rooney's fitness) before the deadline of June 9,' said a statement issued by United this morning.
'Both parties agree that everything possible is being done to aid recovery of a fracture that involves the joint.'
While United are refusing to give any credence to weekend reports that the Old Trafford club felt Eriksson had been too optimistic in his assessment of the results of the scan Rooney had on Thursday, it now seems the forward is less likely to play in Germany than the England manager previously felt.
While United stress the next scan is 'precautionary', it is stating the obvious to say the injury is less likely to have healed than it would have done had the scan taken place on June 14 as originally intended.
Confirmation that the fracture involved a joint is also telling, as breaks of this nature usually take longer to heal.
While Eriksson has continually stressed his intention to take Rooney to Germany even if the youngster could only play a minimal part in the competition, he is also acutely aware of Ferguson's concern over Rooney going when he is less than 100% fit and then being forced to play.
