Wayne Rooney rejoined England's World Cup campaign last night after Sven-Goran Eriksson was forced to overrule a furious Manchester United and insist his star striker return to Germany.

Rooney will resume full training this morning at England's tournament base in the Black Forest, but opinions are divided as to whether he is fit to do so.

A scan on his broken foot in Manchester yesterday proved inconclusive; England's team doctor, Leif Sward, was of the opinion the broken metatarsal had healed enough to give Rooney a chance of appearing in the knockout stages of the tournament, while his club believe the risk of their star player suffering long-term injury is just too great.

Manchester United's manager, Alex Ferguson, is certain to be furious his prize asset will be subjected to such a risk and the possibility of the club taking legal action against the English Football Association cannot be discounted.

But under World Cup rules the national association has the final say on the fitness of players and, given that he will not be in the England job after the tournament, Eriksson does not fear the repercussions of a falling out with the club.

United will probably make their true feelings known more forcibly today. For the moment there appears little they can do.

The Old Trafford club are perhaps entitled to feel that they should have first call on a player they paid Everton £27 million for two years ago.

Rooney's doctor's appointment was a shining example of the benefits of private healthcare. From the moment he left England's exclusive retreat yesterday morning, the Boy Wonder and his fragile right foot were wrapped in cotton wool. For the millions whose expectations for the next month rest on Rooney's damaged metatarsal, however, the experience was strictly NHS. Starved of information and sick with worry, a football nation spent the day like anxious relatives in a casualty ward, waiting, and waiting, and waiting.

The vigil began shortly after 9am when, live on rolling news and talk radio, Rooney emerged from the castellated confines of England's five-star retreat to be driven to Karlsruhe airfield, where a private jet awaited.

An hour and a half later, at 11.20am local time, the jet sighed on to the tarmac at Manchester airport, where the party was joined by Rooney's agent, Paul Stretford, and the Manchester United medical team of physiotherapist Rob Swire and Dr Tony Gill.

A Mercedes people-carrier pursued by photographers and helicopters bearing news crews transported the party to hospital.

Shortly before midday Rooney had the scan, and 24 minutes after arriving he was off, heading to the Croxteth home of the parents of his fiancee, Coleen McLoughlin, to sip tea and wait for the images to be developed.

In the febrile pre-World Cup commercial environment it was inevitable capital would be sought from the hospital visit. Ryanair were first to break cover, offering 50,000 free (taxes and charges will still apply) tickets on (unspecified) selected routes in the autumn if Rooney plays.

Rooney later returned to the clinic for the results of the scan, only for proceedings to be further delayed by a fire alarm that saw staff spilling out into the carpark to mingle with reporters.

For the nation of England, meanwhile, uncertainty over Rooney remains and the wait goes on, the only consolation being that the end is in sight.