Sven-Goran Eriksson's striker worries ahead of Sunday's clash with Denmark eased today when it was announced Wayne Rooney will be present when the England squad assembles in Manchester tomorrow.
The Everton striker, 18, missed Monday's Premiership defeat at Blackburn because of the flu bug which has swept the Toffees' Bellefield training complex.
Rooney has since been confined to his home and Everton physio Mike Rathbone said just this morning that Rooney was "very unwell" and expected to be laid low for "five or six days".
However, the Football Association revealed this afternoon he will join up with the rest of the squad in the north-west tomorrow ahead of the Old Trafford friendly.
That will come as welcome news for Eriksson, who has already been robbed of Michael Owen due to his ankle injury and would have been without both his first-choice forwards had Rooney pulled out.
FA spokesman Adrian Bevington told thefa.com: "Wayne Rooney will join up with the England squad in Manchester tomorrow. Our medical staff spoke to the Everton medical staff this morning and we're hopeful he'll be available for the game against Denmark on Sunday."
Everton physio Rathbone confirmed earlier that Rooney has had the same symptoms as Alan Stubbs, who has lost half a stone in weight while ill. He said: "Myself and the club doctor have visited Wayne and he is feeling very unwell.
"He is suffering from the exact symptoms as the other players who have been affected and we are assuming that it is the same viral condition. It is a particularly nasty bug that affects you for a period of five or six days.
"We will continue to monitor his progress every day and we are liaising closely with the medical staff at the FA over his condition."