London, Nov 12: England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson faces a striker shortage for Sunday's friendly against Denmark after Wayne Rooney went down with flu.
The teenage Everton striker has fallen victim to the virus sweeping Goodison Park and played no part in his side's defeat at Blackburn Monday.
Everton manager David Moyes said after the match: "He's got flu. He started to show signs of it on Sunday and I think he is just at the start of it.
"It could be the end of the week at the earliest before he is out of his bed if it takes the same course as the other players."
If Rooney fails to recover, Eriksson could be forced to call up either James Beattie or Alan Smith to bolster a small striking force already weakened by Michael Owen's absence through injury.



Without Rooney, Emile Heskey and Darius Vassell are the only strikers currently in the squad for the match at Old Trafford.


Bureau Report