Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney will start England's Group B World Cup match against Sweden in Cologne on Tuesday according to England head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

20-year-old Rooney will partner Michael Owen in attack, with Liverpool's Peter Crouch, who was booked in the match against Trinidad and Tobago and is one booking away from a ban, due to be rested for the match.

Rooney came on as a substitute in the match against T&T and played 33 minutes showing no bad-signs after his broken metatarsal injury which he picked-up in a Premiership match against Chelsea in April.

"The medical people say he can play more than 45 minutes, so if that is the case it is better he starts the game," said Eriksson at a press conference.

Crouch's Liverpool team-mate and captain Steven Gerrard will also be rested for the match, with Gerrard also under the threat of being suspended for the last 16 clash with either Ecuador or Germany if he was booked, and Eriksson is keen to ensure he is available for the knockout rounds.

Eriksson is almost certain to draft in Bayern Munich's Owen Hargreaves to play a holding midfield role on Tuesday, with Frank Lampard, who is also on a yellow card, but the Chelsea midfielder is expected to play against Sven's compatriots.

The 20-year-old Rooney's return to the starting line-up will lift England after two below-par performances.

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