UNITED KINGDOM: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson expects Wayne Rooney to be fit for England's next two World Cup qualifiers

Record ID: 336121

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson expects Wayne Rooney to be fit for England's next two World Cup qualifiers
  • Date: 4th October 2008
  • Summary: AALBORG, DENMARK (SEPTEMBER 29, 2008) (REUTERS) WIDE OF MANCHESTER UNITED SQUAD TRAINING
  • Embargoed: 19th October 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA2BGIIQHM5L683G1D6F3T4RL9K
  • Story Text: Injured striker Wayne Rooney will join up with England's squad next week with the blessing of Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager said on Friday (October 3).
    Rooney has resumed light training after picking up an ankle injury in Tuesday's Champions League win at Aalborg but is unlikely to play against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

    "Neville and Rooney were jogging this morning hopefully they can finish off by doing some ball work but that is the situation I regard them both as doubtful for tomorrow," Ferguson told reporters.
    England's squad meet up on Monday for their World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Belarus and the United manager expects Rooney to be involved.

    "In case of Rooney, I have no issues with him joining England and the only saving grace about that is that the games they have, England, they should cope even if Wayne was not to make next Saturday's game. And that is (England coach) Fabio's (Capello) call and how he progresses in the next few days of course. I have no problems with that," said United manager.
    United are also without Owen Hargreaves, Michael Carrick, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes against Blackburn in Premier League.
    Scholes damaged his medial knee ligaments in Denmark and was stretchered off the pitch.

    "Paul Scoles is, you know, he is out for ten weeks anyway. The thing about that time which is poor tempered with - you know its always when you get a good result in Europe but it is tempered by something like that it was a bit of a blow to us, that, because he is such an important player. But the nature of Paul (Scholes) in the last few years is that he has had some long term injuries like this and he has always come back nice and fresh so that's one saving grace about it too," said Ferguson.
    Scholes and midfielder Paul Darren Fletcher have signed new contracts extending their careers at Old Trafford until 2010, the Premier League champions said today.
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