LONDON - Wayne Rooney has been given the all-clear to play in England's World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland despite police inquiries into an alleged nightclub brawl.
Manchester Police have confirmed they are launching inquiries into claims by a 22-year-old student that Rooney struck him during an argument in a late night bar on Monday.
Police have, however, not yet made contact with the Football Association about whether they are interested in interviewing Rooney this week while he is on England duty.
The 19-year-old striker will therefore continue preparations for Saturday's game at Old Trafford, with a training session at Manchester United's Carrington base on Wednesday morning.
Only if Rooney, who denies the accusation, is later found guilty of any offence will his England place be jeopardised, although the FA may have to review the situation if he is actually charged.
The FA's rules have nevertheless changed since Alan Smith was asked to leave the squad before a friendly against Denmark in November 2003 after simply being interviewed by police.
Smith, who had been accused of throwing a bottle back into the crowd during a game, was cleared of any wrongdoing and the case prompted a rethink by the FA.
Rooney is therefore still expected to start Saturday's game against Northern Ireland, with England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson understood to be relaxed about his presence in a bar late on Monday night.
Rooney and Rio Ferdinand, who was with him, were not yet on England duty, given that the squad joined up Tuesday lunchtime, and while they may have been unwise, they will not be punished.
England skipper David Beckham, no stranger to the kind of attention Rooney is now having to contend with, said the alleged incident had not had any perceptible bearing on the teenager.
"Wayne's fine," Beckham said. "I don't know much about what has been said. We're here as a team and stick together as a team," he added before voicing his confidence in Rooney's ability to concentrate on Saturday's match.
"We're preparing for a big game and come Saturday he'll be giving 110 percent."
Rooney has denied any involvement in the alleged 1am assault and is hoping that CCTV footage from the bar will prove his innocence.
A spokesman for the player insisted: "Wayne was approached by a man he had never met in a menacing and threatening manner.
"At no stage did Wayne respond. The man was immediately asked to leave the nightclub in the company of security guards."
An official complaint was nevertheless lodged with police after Rooney was allegedly taunted over his controversial move from Everton to United last summer.
It is claimed the student screamed at the striker, calling him 'treacherous' and shouting 'once a blue, always a blue', in reference to his former Everton career.
Rooney insisted only last summer he would try to avoid such potentially controversial situations.
"Obviously you want to try and avoid them," he accepted before the Euro 2004 finals.
"But I'm a young lad so if I want to go out a week before a game, I will. I just won't go out three or four days before a game."

03/23/2005 16:25 GMT