Sven-Goran Eriksson believes Wayne Rooney can play as a lone striker at the World Cup - but the England boss refused to be drawn on whether he will change his formation following the injury to Michael Owen.

Owen's injury has left Eriksson with just three strikers in his squad.

This in turn has led to suggestions the Swede could keep holding midfielder Owen Hargreaves in the side against Ecuador for the second round clash in Stuttgart on Sunday, with Rooney or Peter Crouch leading the attack on their own.