Everton striker Wayne Rooney looks likely to miss England’s match against South Africa on May 22 after he suffered a knee injury in his club’s final game of the season against Manchester United.

Rooney completed the match, but manager David Moyes said the 17-year-old striker had suffered a knee ligament strain that would prevent him playing for England in the friendly.

Asked if Rooney would be fit for the game, Moyes told Sky Sports TV: “Not at the moment, no.”

Despite Moyes inisistence that the 17-year-old striker was not fit to play, there were indications that the FA would make their own assessment of Rooney’s fitness before ruling out the Everton youngster.

Adrian Bevington, the FA’s head of media relations, said: “Sven spoke to David Moyes on the telephone after today’s game regarding Wayne Rooney.

“As we are all aware, Wayne will have a scan on his knee in the morning. Following the scan, the England team doctor will have a conversation with his counterpart at Everton, from where we will assess the situation further.

“Sven will name the squad for the games against South Africa, Serbia and Montenegro, and Slovakia at lunchtime tomorrow.”

Moyes has been pleading with England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson not to take Rooney to South Africa as he believes the young striker needs a rest after his debut professional season.