Rooney likely to miss Chelsea game

Wayne Rooney is unlikely to be fit for Manchester United's trip to Chelsea. Photo by: Sang Tan

Wayne Rooney is unlikely to be fit for Manchester United's trip to Chelsea. Photo by: Sang Tan

Published Jan 16, 2014

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Wayne Rooney is unlikely to be fit for Manchester United’s trip to Chelsea on Sunday, and is only rated as 50-50 for the Capital One Cup semi-final against Sunderland three days later.

Rooney is expected back at United’s Carrington training base today following his break in Egypt.

He has been doing fitness work with United’s head of human performance Richard Hawkins as well as spending time with wife Coleen and their family. Although it is understood to have gone well, United are reluctant to risk Rooney at Stamford Bridge despite the importance of the game and continued absence of his strike partner Robin van Persie.

Manager David Moyes had been trying to manage the problem by playing Rooney in only three of the last eight matches but he

admitted that had failed to cure the problem.

‘We look as if we could bring him in but then he may have to drop out again, so we just want to nip it in the bud,’ said Moyes last week. United’s manager may yet be tempted to take a gamble on him at Stamford Bridge but Rooney is more likely to return against Sunderland.

Meanwhile, Moyes will not contest the FA charge he received for criticising referee Andre Marriner in the wake of last week’s Capital One Cup semi-final first leg 2-1 defeat at the Stadium of Light. He is likely to be fined rather than banned. – Daily Mail

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