Wayne Rooney given rest to clear up injury ahead of Euro 2012

Wayne Rooney (Man United) If Man Utd manage to successfully retain their Premier League title this season, they will owe a lot to Rooney whose 26 league goals have been the difference. (GETTY IMAGES)

Wayne Rooney has been given an extended break, in order to get fit for the European Championship. It has emerged the striker was playing while injured for Manchester United in the last games of the Premier League season.

The England coach, Roy Hodgson, said details of the injury – suspected to be a toe problem – had not been disclosed by Sir Alex Ferguson, United's manager.

Rooney is suspended for the first two Euro 2012 games and will also miss the warm-up matches against Norway and Belgium.

Hodgson said: "I think he'll benefit from the rest and also he's been playing with a slight injury for the last three or four games and that needed a couple of weeks to really clear up."