11 October,2011 01:15 PM IST | | AFP
England striker Wayne Rooney will discover the length of his Euro 2012 suspension on Thursday, European football governing body UEFA said on Monday.
The 25-year-old Manchester United player will definitely miss England's first game in the tournament after kicking Miodrag Dzudovic in the 2-2 draw with Montenegro.
The governing body's disciplinary panel could decide to increase the punishment to three matches, but England remain hopeful it will only be a one-game ban after referee Wolfgang Stark admitted Rooney's acceptance of his red card could work in his favour.
England coach Fabio Capello has warned Rooney that he cannot expect to stroll back into the Euro 2012 reckoning after serving his suspension.
"Yes," replied Capello, when asked if he was prepared to leave Rooney out of his team.
"In my life as a manager I have put on the bench a lot of players. I always decided who was the best player at that moment."
The Italian added: "I need to find the solution for the first game, or two games, that Rooney will not play.
"And if we find that solution, he needs to work to return to the first 11.
"You know me. Sometimes I make mistakes but I try to select the best players, in the best moment of form."
With qualification assured, Capello will use the November 12 friendly against world champions Spain to examine the striking options available to him.