Wayne Rooney has opened up about the hand injury which saw him needing hospital treatment. He spoke about the injury during an appearance on the BBC’s live build-up ahead of the 2026 FA Cup final.
Rooney was one of a number of guest pundits ahead of the final between Manchester City and Chelsea. He shared some of his own FA Cup memories from years gone by as well as opening up on the hand injury – sustained on a separate BBC segment – after presenter Jason Mohammad asked him what had happened.
“I went in goal and then it was a great save off Jordan (Pickford) and then I’ve messed my hand up,” Rooney said. When Mohammad asked for more information, the former striker added: “I’m with a surgeon. I’ve been in the hospital and I’m back on Monday.”
Mohammad wished Rooney well and then shook his good hand. Subsequently, footage was shown of Rooney and Pickford together on the training ground.
Rooney’s time with the Everton keeper also saw him involved in a number of training exercises, all performed with a smile on his face. The pair were briefly team-mates on Merseyside, with Rooney re-joining the club in 2017 just days after Pickford arrived from Sunderland.
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Former England star Rooney has taken naturally to punditry, having also tried his hand at management since retiring. His managerial stints weren’t quite as successful and he has been out of the dugout since leaving Plymouth midway through the 2024/25 season.
He won multiple Premier League titles but only has one FA Cup win to his name. That came in 2016, when he captained Manchester United to an extra-time victory over Crystal Palace.
Rooney also spoke to Pickford on The Wayne Rooney show, where the pair reflected on an encounter from before they were club team-mates. The pair met on England duty, with the goalkeeper left star-struck.
“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.”
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