Rooney and Cole boost beleaguered England

England’s flagging World Cup campaign was given a badly-needed lift on Tuesday when star striker Wayne Rooney and Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole returned to training.

The duo had been restricted to gym and pool work following knocks in England’s disappointing 1-1 draw with the United States in their Group C opener.

But they were both able to join in with their team-mates at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus as Fabio Capello fine-tuned his preparations for Friday’s must-win meeting with Algeria in Cape Town.

With Gareth Barry, whose steadying influence in the midfield holding role was badly missed against the Americans, now working flat out following his recovery from an ankle injury, the only absentee was Ledley King, who is not expected to play any further part in the tournament.

King, drafted in to replace injured skipper Rio Ferdinand, had to come off at half-time on Saturday with a groin strain and his manager at Tottenham, Harry Redknapp, believes he will not feature again in South Africa, although the Football Association have refused to confirm how long he will be out for.

With King definitely out of the Algeria match, Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher is expected to start alongside John Terry in Cape Town.