WAYNE ROONEY IS set to make his first appearance at Euro 2012 when England face co-hosts Ukraine on Tuesday.
England, second in Group D on four points, need only a draw from their last group match to secure a berth in the last eight, while third-placed Ukraine must win to keep their tournament hopes alive.
Rooney missed England’s opening two group games through suspension but is expected to make an immediate return at Donetsk’s Donbass Arena. Liverpool forward Andy Carroll could make way from England’s starting line-up, with manager Roy Hodgson likely to favour a combination of Rooney and Manchester United team-mate Danny Welbeck up front.
But Carroll, scorer of the first goal in England’s rollercoaster 3-2 win over Sweden on Friday, remains hopeful of linking up with Rooney, who has 74 caps and 28 goals to his name.
“I think I put myself about in the game against Sweden. Now I’ve just got to do that in training and try to keep my place,” Carroll told The Mail on Sunday. ”Obviously, Wayne is a fantastic player with great qualities and we need him in the team. I would love to play alongside him — any player would — and I’ve never had that chance before.”
England played out a 1-1 draw against France before their win over Sweden, which came courtesy of goals from Carroll, Arsenal winger Theo Walcott and Welbeck. Ukraine, who defeated the Swedes 2-1 but lost to France 2-0, are sweating on the fitness of talisman Andriy Shevchenko.
The former AC Milan and Chelsea striker scored both goals against Sweden but is in doubt to face England after missing training with a knee injury. Ukraine defeated England 1-0 last time the sides met in a 2010 World Cup qualifier at Dnipropetrovsk’s Dnipro Arena.
