Wayne Rooney taken to hospital on BBC show and Man Utd hero may need surgery | Football | Sport

Wayne Rooney has sustained a hand injury that may require surgery. The England legend spoke candidly about the problem during an appearance on the BBC‘s live coverage ahead of the 2026 FA Cup final, visibly wearing a wrist support throughout the broadcast. Rooney was among several guest pundits ahead of the showpiece clash between Manchester City and Chelsea.

He recalled fond FA Cup memories from his playing days while also addressing the hand injury – which occurred during a separate BBC segment earlier this week while filming alongside England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford for his podcast, The Wayne Rooney Show. “I went in goal and then it was a great save off Jordan and then I’ve messed my hand up,” Rooney said. When presenter Jason Mohammad pressed for further details, the former striker revealed: “I’m with a surgeon. I’ve been in the hospital and I’m back on Monday.”

Mohammad offered his best wishes before shaking Rooney’s uninjured hand. The football icon spent time this week interviewing Pickford for a feature on the BBC programme, with the pair running through a series of goalkeeping drills at Everton’s training ground. While attempting to keep out a Pickford penalty, Rooney dived and damaged his left hand.

Rooney’s session with the Everton stopper also involved various training exercises, all carried out in good spirits. The pair shared a brief spell as team-mates on Merseyside, with Rooney rejoining the club in 2017 just days after Pickford made the move from Sunderland.

Former England great Rooney has taken to punditry with ease, having also ventured into management following his retirement. His spells in the dugout weren’t particularly fruitful and he has been without a club to manage since departing Plymouth midway through the 2024/25 season.

He claimed numerous Premier League titles but has just a solitary FA Cup triumph to his name. That victory came in 2016, when he led Manchester United to an extra-time win over Crystal Palace.

During an interview segment, Rooney and Pickford reminisced about an encounter from before they became club team-mates. The pair first crossed paths on international duty, with the goalkeeper left completely awestruck.

“I watched you growing up and when I was watching you in the Euros and getting in an England squad, everyone looked up to you,” Pickford said. “So even then [on the bus] I was texting saying: ‘I’m opposite Wazza.’ I was shaking.

“I was on the bench and it was a great experience. My dream was to play for England. We know there’s only that small percentage of kids growing up get that opportunity.”