Wayne Rooney has returned to hospital to find out the results of a scan on his broken foot.
England star Rooney spent 25 minutes at the Bupa clinic in Whalley Range, Manchester earlier on Wednesday, when a CT scan on his foot was carried out.
The 20-year-old has now back at the hospital for about two hours.
Doctors from Manchester United and the England team are studying the scan - and it has been reported that United lawyers have now joined them.
United doctor Tony Gill and physio Rob Swire, England team doctor Leif Sward and other specialists were due to look at the scan, which was taken of the metatarsal Rooney fractured back in April.
It is also thought that an independent consultant from Fifa is on hand should there be any conflict between Rooney's club and country.
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Once a decision is made coach Sven-Goran Eriksson will be informed by phone and Rooney will either fly back to Germany to re-join the squad or stay at home to watch the World Cup on television.
Rooney has a plane waiting at Manchester Airport with a 2000 BST slot to take him back to Germany - but it now looks like he will miss that flight no matter what the decision is.
The Manchester United star has now spent about two hours at the hospital while the scans are studied.
There has also been a minor diversion when a fire engine turned up at the hospital - in front of the massed media - and firefighters went in. It is not known what alarm prompted their arrival.
Olly Foster, reporting from outside the hospital for BBC News 24, said live on air: "It's looking like bad news. Why aren't they coming out with a decision? The more Manchester United people are in there - and the longer it takes - it's not looking good for that metatarsal."
If Rooney is ruled out, Jermain Defoe of Tottenham will stay in Germany and take Rooney's place in the squad.
The deadline for a decision on whether to replace Rooney in the squad is Friday at 1400 BST, 24 hours before England's opening game against Paraguay.
Earlier in the day England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson was in bullish mood.
"I am confident and he is 300% confident he will play. I have been saying for one month that I'm sure he will take part," Eriksson said.
"I think he looks very good - but let the surgeons and the specialists have their say," said Eriksson.
"If he doesn't come back it will be a disappointment but we have got to get on with it"
"I look forward to the point when we don't discuss scans and Rooney's foot any more.
"Very soon we will know what is going to happen about him but I have always said I think he will be ready."
The Manchester United player spent Tuesday's training session in Buhlertal, near the squad's base, with one of the England physios going through some sprinting skills and some limited ball work.
England team-mate John Terry said the squad are hopeful their star man will be able to return to Germany, but said they will be able to cope if he cannot make it.
"He is such an important and great player that it will obviously be a boost if he is fit," he said.
"But we are like everyone else, we are just waiting with fingers crossed and hoping for him to come back.
"If he doesn't it will be a disappointment but we are professionals and we have got to get on with it. Our performances without him have shown back in England have been encouraging."