LONDON (AFP) - Wayne Rooney has been given the all clear to link up with the England squad for Wednesday´s friendly against Spain.

The Manchester United striker was originally considered doubtful for the game in Manchester after limping off with an ankle injury in Sunday´s 4-0 win at Tottenham.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had said that Rooney would be assessed by United´s medical staff on Monday morning but expressed doubt as to whether the 21-year-old would be fit enough to face Spain.

But United have decided to let Rooney join up with Steve McClaren and the squad with the Football Association having the final decision over the forward´s fitness.

McClaren though will have to do without Owen Hargreaves after the Bayern Munich midfielder ruled himself out of contention.

Hargreaves had been named in the national-team squad despite only returning to action from a broken leg in Friday´s Bundesliga defeat to Nuremberg.

However he told BBC Sport: "I spoke to England manager Steve McClaren on Saturday.

"He asked how the game was. I told him it was good but I was physically a bit tired and sore.

"That´s why I´m not going to play against Spain.

"I just returned on Friday and to play again on Wednesday would be too much."

Rooney´s inclusion is a boost for McClaren who faced losing his entire three-man strike force from the November draw in Holland. Joe Cole has already been ruled out with a broken foot, while Andrew Johnson has only just returned to action after an ankle injury.

Having lost eight members of his squad prior to the Holland game, McClaren has escaped relatively unscathed this time around with Tottenham´s Jermaine Jenas the only absentee from the 28-man party named on Friday.

John Terry may only play a minor role though following his own long-term injury problems.

That means vice-captain Steven Gerrard will skipper his country for the first time in three years.