Roo said a single player can't affect several betting markets?

Betfacts / Dan Fitch / 20 August 2007 / 1 Comments Free £25 Bet

Betfair's Dan Fitch looks at how Rooney's latest injury has impacted on Man Utd, England and top goalscorer markets

The latest injury to Wayne Rooney has come at a calamitous time for both Manchester United and England, but has had interesting repercussions on a host of Betfair markets. As I don't see why it should just be frisky old ladies that profit from Rooney's antics, here's the low-down on how a perpetually broken metatarsal can play havoc with the form book.

Firstly there's the obvious effect on United's form. When Michael Duberry planted his size twelve on Wayne's wafer-thin boot, it was his greatest ever achievement for Chelsea, despite it being eight years since he last played for them. United are now completely reliant on Tevez to lead the line and so far he's looked off the pace. Tevez waited until March to score his first goal for West Ham last season, yet was still considered a hero. If he repeats that drought at Old Trafford, United's lawyers will be spending all of next summer trying to prove that his registration still belongs to the Hammers.

Two points from a possible nine has seen the Reds drift out to 4.1 in the outright Premier League winners market. This may prove to be good value. Next up they're playing hosts to a Tottenham defence carrying more injuries than the combined extras from Holby City and Casualty. They're then at home again to a Sunderland side that has just been torn apart by Antoine Sibierski. Six points will surely see their price drop and by this point they should also have Luis Saha back from injury. As injury prone as Saha has proved to be during his Old Trafford career, he has an excellent goals-to-games ratio and unlike Rooney or Tevez, is an out and out striker. A win in the 23rd September clash with Chelsea, would surely see their prices flip flop.

If Rooney's absence has hit United hard, it could prove to be positively catastrophic for England and Steve McLaren's chances of keeping his job. Wayne's out, Crouch is banned for the Israel qualifier and it seems so long since Owen last scored for Newcastle, that I'd wager it was Mickey Quinn that was partnering him upfront. The paucity of England's potential strike force is apparent in a squad that names the mediocrity of Bent, Johnson, Defoe and Smith for the friendly against Germany.

If all this has led you to believe that Germany is a sure thing in this meaningless friendly, then you should cast a glance at their injury list. Joachim Loew is without almost all of his first team. Only the 1914 England v Germany match played in No Man's Land on Christmas Day, featured less of their coaches' preferred starting elevens. Thus, the draw at 3.25 seems good value, though to be safe you may wish to lay England at 2.42. In regards to our qualification for Euro 2008, a price of 1.79 to lay is surely too short for a side that has been in such disarray.

The lack of striking talent makes Rooney's price interesting in the top English goalscorer market. The former favourite in this market, Wayne is now priced at 9 to back. Given the sheer lack of English strikers in the Premier league, Owen's injury problems and the rotation policies at Tottenham and Liverpool, will Rooney find himself that far behind when he returns from injury in October? The main competition should come from a midfielder in Frank Lampard, who is currently available at 7.6. As Chelsea's penalty taker he's a fair price. All he needs now is for Rob Stiles to referee every Chelsea game and he'll be an odds-on shot.

The experts on metatarsal injuries amongst our Betfair community will be delighted to know they can bet on which match Rooney will make his return in, whether for club or country. The market is called Wayne's Rooturn and can be found under soccer specials.

Tags: Premiership top goalscorer, Rooney injury, Wayne Rooney