Wayne Rooney will miss England's trip to South Africa later this month after picking up a medial knee ligament injury in Everton's defeat by Manchester United.

Wayne Rooney will miss England's trip to South Africa later this month after picking up a medial knee ligament injury in Everton's defeat by Manchester United.

The 17-year-old took a first-half knock which was aggravated by a late challenge from Laurent Blanc just after half-time. Rooney, whose manager David Moyes had been in conflict with the England coach Sven Goran Eriksson over his availability, will have a scan this morning but Moyes said he also rates him doubtful for next month's Euro 2004 qualifier against Slovakia and the friendly with Serbia.

Eriksson had indicated that he would take Rooney, but Moyes said: "The boy has had an awfully long season and ... if you want the best from him in the European Championships it would be better to give him a break."