The ex-Manchester United and England striker says he is seeing a surgeon about potential surgery
Wayne Rooney has revealed he has sustained a hand injury which may need surgical intervention. The England legend revealed details of the injury during an appearance on the BBC‘s live coverage prior to the 2026 FA Cup final, featuring on the broadcast sporting a wrist brace.
Rooney was amongst several guest pundits ahead of the final between Manchester City and Chelsea. He reminisced about some of his own FA Cup experiences from previous years while also discussing the hand injury – incurred during a separate BBC segment this week while filming with England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford for his podcast The Wayne Rooney Show, the Mirror reports.
“I went in goal and then it was a great save off Jordan and then I’ve messed my hand up,” Rooney said. When presenter Jason Mohammad pressed for further details, the former striker added: “I’m with a surgeon. I’ve been in the hospital and I’m back on Monday.”
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Mohammad offered his best wishes to Rooney before shaking his uninjured hand. Rooney devoted this week to interviewing Pickford for a feature on the BBC programme, with the duo running through some goalkeeping exercises at Everton’s training facility. While trying to stop Pickford’s spot-kick, Rooney dived and damaged his left hand.
Rooney’s session with the Everton shot-stopper also involved him participating in various training drills, all completed with evident enjoyment. The duo were briefly club-mates on Merseyside, with Rooney returning to the club in 2017 just days after Pickford signed from Sunderland. JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football’s Facebook page.
Former England international Rooney has taken to punditry with ease, having also ventured into management following his retirement from playing. His spells in the dugout proved less fruitful, and he has been without a club since departing Plymouth midway through the 2024/25 season.
During his playing career, Rooney claimed numerous Premier League titles, yet his FA Cup haul amounts to just a single triumph. That victory came in 2016, when he led Manchester United to an extra-time win against Crystal Palace.
In one interview segment, Rooney and Pickford looked back on an encounter that predated their time as club team-mates. The two first crossed paths while on international duty with England, with the goalkeeper admitting he was awestruck by the occasion.
“I watched you growing up and when I was watching you in the Euros and getting in an England squad, everyone looked up to you,” Pickford said. “So even then [on the bus] I was texting saying: ‘I’m opposite Wazza.’ I was shaking.
“I was on the bench and it was a great experience. My dream was to play for England. We know there’s only that small percentage of kids growing up get that opportunity.”
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