Nuremburg England striker Wayne Rooney ended a near seven-week absence from football when he came on as a substitute in Thursday's 2-0 World Cup Group B victory against Trinidad & Tobago.
Rooney was sent on in the 58th minute at the Frankenstadion with the score 0-0, to the delight of England fans on a sultry evening.
The striker, pronounced fit to play hours before the start after suffering a broken foot on April 29, appeared to show no ill effects from the injury after making a faster-than-expected recovery.
The 20-year-old was soon into the thick of the action as he tried to put some spark into another lacklustre England display rescued by late goals from Peter Crouch and Steven Gerrard.
After his first pass went astray his second touch brought a trademark surging run past two Trinidad defenders before being closed down.
An incisive pass then put Ashley Cole into the penalty area before moments later he was bundled to the turf by Brent Sancho, quickly picking himself up with no hint of any pain.
His first shooting chance came eight minutes from time when, turning away from his marker on the edge of the box, he was pick-pocketed by Chris Birchall who took the ball off his toes as he was set to pull the trigger.
Rooney was cleared to play after two independent medical experts examined him on Thursday.
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