England striker Wayne Rooney has attacked the “disgusting” British press for reporting on his bid to regain fitness while also taking a family holiday in Portugal.

Manchester United striker Rooney has gone to Portugal, where England are due to hold a pre-World Cup training camp, with his wife and two sons, as well as a couple of fitness experts in a bid to recover from the groin strain that saw him miss the final three matches of the Premiership season.

On his Twitter feed, Rooney wrote on Sunday: “Disgusting that English press have flew out to Portugal to follow me while I’m with my children.”

But the fact Rooney – who last played for United on April 26 – is in Portugal for rehabilitation work, as well as a family holiday, will be used by the British media to argue that his time there, in addition to that the England squad will spend in the country ahead of the World Cup finals in Brazil, is a subject of legitimate interest.

Further complicating the situation is that, while in Portugal, the England forward has posted videos of himself exercising with his son, Kai.