I could play again for Manchester United this season claims Rooney

Wayne Rooney said last night that he will be fit for the World Cup and that he might even play again for Manchester United this season. Rooney, 24, who was crowned PFA Footballer of the Year last night – an accolade he described as a "great honour" – said: "I'm fine, I'll be OK for the World Cup – in fact I'll probably be OK to play against Stoke in the last game of the season [a week on Sunday]."

Rooney injured his right ankle against Bayern Munich on 30 March, and missed Saturday's win over Tottenham. The England camp believe that he injured his left leg by overcompensating for the right ankle he hurt against Bayern.

Sir Alex Ferguson's prognosis is that the injury, sustained in training last Thursday, will keep him out for "two to three weeks" though Ferguson's assistant Mike Phelan said: "We have got seven days to prepare for the next game and we hope we get Wayne Rooney back."

Rooney, who beat Cesc Fabregas, Carlos Tevez and Didier Drogba to last night's award, said: "It's a great feeling to win the player of the year award because it's voted for by the players. It's something I'm really proud of and it's a great honour. I remember coming here in 2005 and 2006 to win young player of the year. I saw the players winning the main one and it's something I've aimed for since." Aston Villa's James Milner was voted Young Player of the Year.

However, Rooney may still not be risked by coach Fabio Capello for the Wembley friendly against Mexico on 24 May, leaving only the friendly against Japan in Graz six days later as preparation. Of more concern to Capello is Rio Ferdinand, whose own groin complaint meant he could not add to his mere 11 Premier League starts for United this season. Though Ferdinand was back in training with United's reserves last Tuesday there is a worrying unpredictability where his own match-readiness is concerned. Even if he features at Sunderland, it is still difficult to assess whether he will be fully fit for the World Cup countdown.

Meanwhile, England will not attempt to persuade Manchester City left-back Wayne Bridge to recant his decision to retire from international football. They will instead wait for him to make his own mind up.