Fabio Capello will get a clear indication of how much damage has been done to his World Cup plans during a tumultuous month off the pitch when England face Egypt in Wednesday's friendly at Wembley.

Capello has spent the last 48 hours at England's training base assessing his squad's morale following a series of scandals and injuries that threaten to derail his meticulous preparations for the finals in South Africa.

Since England were last in action against Brazil in November, Capello has had to axe John Terry as captain following the Chelsea defender's alleged affair with Vanessa Perroncel, the former partner of international teammate Wayne Bridge.

Terry could be in for a rough ride against the Africa Cup of Nations winners at Wembley if England fans feel

the centre-back has let his country down.

As if that wasn't enough to give Capello sleepless nights, he also had to watch first-choice left-back Ashley Cole, already sidelined for three months due to an ankle injury, split from his popstar wife Cheryl after a series of tawdry tabloid stories linking him to affairs with a string ofwomen.

But his problems didn't

end there as Bridge opted to consign himself to international exile rather than face the unpalatable prospect of playing alongside Terry.

Throw in injuries to Rio Ferdinand, the man Capello had planned to name as his new captain, and right-back Glen Johnson, as well the poor form of Theo Walcott and Joe Cole, and all the Italian's carefully laid plans suddenly look in danger of crumbling

with England's World Cup opener against the United States less than 100 days away.

The one shining light for Capello in the gloom enveloping his team is the form and attitude ofWayne Rooney.

The Manchester United forward is enjoying the best moment of his life and continued his goal-scoring hot streak with the winner in Sunday's League Cup final against Aston Villa.

It was Rooney's 28th goal of the season and provided further reward for his wise decision to stay out of the spotlight as much as possible and enjoy the quiet life with his family.

Rooney knows better than most just how difficult it can be to grow up in public after a series of youthful indiscretions were splashed over the frontpages.

Now married and with a new baby to look after, Rooney is content to live life in the slow lane and his football has reached new heights.