The Man Utd star may have to give evidence just before the World Cup

The Sun newspaper is being sued by Patricia Tierney, 50, from Whiston, Merseyside, after it claimed she had sex with the star at a massage parlour.

The trial has been moved over fears the Sun would not get a fair trial in Liverpool because of anger over its reporting of the Hillsborough tragedy.

Rooney may have to give evidence weeks before England play in the World Cup.

A date has yet to be fixed for the trial, but it is expected to be heard in early summer.

Newspaper boycott

Mr Justice McCombe has ruled the case should be transferred to the High Court in Manchester.

The allegations, published in August 2004, were false and have "destroyed" Mrs Tierney's life, her solicitor David Kirwan said at an earlier hearing.

The Sun has previously said it is standing by its story.

A boycott of the Sun was launched on Merseyside after a front page article claimed to have the real story about what happened during the 1989 Hillsborough stadium disaster, when 96 Liverpool fans were crushed to death during an FA cup semi-final.