Wayne Rooney takes personal trainer on pre-World Cup holiday in Portugal

Wayne Rooney is set to start his World Cup preparations early this week - by taking Manchester United's personal trainer with him on holiday to Portugal.

Tony Strudwick will accompany Rooney to Portugal this week ahead of the rest of the England squad, who will arrive in the Algarve on Monday 19 May.

The squad is set to meet on Sunday at St George's Park in Burton and travel together to Vale de Lobo.

But Rooney will head out early for extra work after reportedly suffering with injuries.

Manager Roy Hodgson, who announced his 23-man squad on Monday, said that Rooney was working with two fitness trainers this week in order to be ready for training with the England squad.

He told the Independent: "Tony Strudwick [of Manchester United] has been in touch with us, who wanted to know about the pitch in Vale do Lobo. This is a free week, a week where players go off. Many do go to Portugal, where they have homes.

"Wayne is so determined to be up and running when we get there on 19 May. He's got a house out there in Portugal. He's not alone. A few of them are going out to Portugal. If they've got houses out there, that's where they go on their week off. They don't all go to Dubai and Las Vegas."

According to the Daily Mail, he added: Wayne's attitude is that he's desperate to be up and running on the 19 May. I'm not as desperate, I'm thinking more of June 14, but it's still quite laudable.

"I'm not trying to dissuade him."

Coleen and Wayne both love their annual trips to Portugal, which has become a hotspot for rich and famous holidaymakers, with Alex and Steven Gerrard also last year enjoying a trip to the upmarket area of Vale de Lobo.

Related articles

Coleen and Wayne hit the beach in Barbados

Coleen Rooney frolics in bikini in Portugal

Many fans are turning to private rentals for the World Cup in Rio as hotel prices go up and availability goes down. See more below: