Wayne Rooney ruled out of Everton reunion | Manchester United - Times Online
Wayne Rooney ruled out of Everton reunion
Wayne Rooney appears certain to miss Manchester United’s FA Cup semi-final against Everton tomorrow. The forward had expected to face his former club, but is extremely unlikely to be fit for the game at Wembley after a scan yesterday, having suffered a blow to his foot during the Champions League victory over Porto in midweek.
Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, played down concerns over Rooney at his pre-match press conference yesterday, saying that the forward and Michael Carrick had “knocks, but nothing serious”, but it emerged last night, after the player had a scan, that the injury was more serious. Although initial diagnosis in Oporto on Wednesday ruled out yet another metatarsal fracture, it appears that there is damage, which could restrict Rooney’s involvement in the final weeks of the season unless he rests immediately.
Rooney will be distraught after emphasising how much he was looking forward to playing against Everton in such a big game, even going so far as to offer an olive branch to the Merseyside club’s supporters, whom he upset by leaving for United in 2004.
Dimitar Berbatov will deputise for Rooney, and Ferguson’s team selection promises to be interesting as the United manager has made clear that the Champions League is his overwhelming priority this season, followed by the Barclays Premier League. There were indications from the United camp last night that Ferguson could make as many as six changes to the team that won 1-0 against Porto, which, with Rooney out and Carrick struggling, would suggest that players such as Patrice Evra, who has looked tired lately, Anderson and Ryan Giggs could drop out.
Ferguson is eager to keep his squad fresh before the Premier League matches against Portsmouth and Tottenham Hotspur next week and, beyond that, the Champions League semi-final against Arsenal. He reported that Darren Fletcher was fit after a knee injury and that Wes Brown may start his comeback in a Lancashire Senior Cup tie against Preston North End on Monday. The England defender has not played since suffering a metatarsal fracture during United’s previous meeting with Everton, a 1-0 win at Old Trafford on January 31.
I hope I'm wrong. Anyway I'm working aswell, to make things even worse the guy who owns the club is RS and He says he doesn't give a sh*te who wins
.. At least Chelski put paid to their Euro hopes
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