WAYNE Rooney's hopes of making the World Cup may rest on a Pendle company.

Osiris Marine Services, Park Street, Barrowford, has supplied the oxygen chamber which the Manchester United forward will spend three hours a day in to boost his recovery from a broken bone in his foot.

The machine will pump extra oxygen to the injured tissue in Rooney's foot, hopefully stimulating recovery.

A spokeswoman for Osiris said: "This is a bit different for us. We don't normally do this kind of thing.

"The chamber is usually is on stand-by for divers who suffer the bends after surfacing too quickly."

It was anticipated Rooney would be out for at least six weeks with the injury he sustained last Saturday.

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph's Dr Tom Smith said the treatment could be the difference between whether the 20-year-old striker makes the World Cup or not.

He added: "Some doctors say putting patients in oxygen tanks will help speed up the healing process.

"It won't be by much. But if the recovery time is estimated at six weeks then it might speed it up by a week or so which could be very important for Wayne Rooney and the difference between him playing in the quarter finals of the World Cup or not.

"But then there are some doctors who say it wouldn't make any difference at all."

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson added: "There's no conclusive evidence it helps the recovery, but there's no evidence against it and it won't do any harm.

"Everything is worth a try at this stage."