The 28-year-old striker was rushed back from a metatarsal injury for the 2006 World Cup and carried an ankle injury into the 2010 tournament in South Africa
Browsing: Wayne Rooney
The Manchester United forward, who missed his club’s last three games of the domestic season with the injury as well as a stomach bug, was named in Roy Hodgson’s 23-man squad on Monday
First-half goals by Leighton Baines from the penalty spot and Kevin Mirallas kept Everton one point behind fourth-placed Arsenal with three games left, and guaranteed United won’t be playing in Europe’s top competition next season
United opened the second half looking a bit more adventurous on the attack, which makes sense as they needed a goal to avoid elimination
Four years ago he picked up a metatarsal injury when playing against Bayern in the quarter-final first leg in Munich and was replaced after 55 minutes
Now United manager, David Moyes, unable to call on England striker, Wayne Rooney, because of a toe problem, can take his squad to Germany with extra belief for the return leg of the quarter-final with Bayern
The incident occurred in the closing seconds of the Champions League quarter-final, first leg at Old Trafford
The Spaniard declined to accuse Rooney after the match but he did not hide his dismay at the sending-off
Christian Benteke missed two glorious chances to draw Villa level before Spaniard Juan Mata scored his first goal since his £37 million (NZ$71.1 million) move from Chelsea in January
Olympiakos threatened throughout to grab the goal that would see the Greek side advance on away goals, but United defended stoically and can now look forward to a tie against one of Europe’s truly elite sides in the next round
United rarely looked in trouble and substitute, Danny Welbeck, rounded off the win, which moved Moyes’ team up to sixth in the Barclays Premier League
To tout themselves as able to win a tournament that includes the holders, Bayern Munich, who are more formidable this year, and the gilded Barcelona team of Lionel Messi, Xavi and Neymar, sounds fantastical
And, with a visit to Arsenal on Wednesday, there is no end to the trouble in sight for Manchester United
The win moves Stoke out of the relegation zone and into mid-table
The England striker has been trusted with transfer-market information and kept in the loop about possible signings in a move that acknowledges his importance to the club and a recognition, at the highest level within Old Trafford, that a player of Rooney’s stature deserves to know whether a team who have been struggling all season have the financial muscle and ambition to put it right
Rooney is expected back at United’s Carrington training base on Friday following his break in Egypt
The result maintained Tim Sherwood’s impressive start as Andre Villas-Boas’ replacement, with three wins and a draw over the festive period taking them above their opponents
With manager David Moyes taking charge of United on home turf for the first time since replacing Sir Alex Ferguson, it was set to be a tactical battle – and that was reflected in the first period as the sides kept each other at arm’s length
The striker is thinking over his future but Sir Alex insists it will be at Old Trafford