Premier League - Rooney set for longer injury lay-off
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has confirmed that striker Wayne Rooney's ankle injury is worse than first thought.
Rooney was originally expected to be out of action until the second week of November with the injury, which has restricted him to just six appearances and one goal for his club so far this term.
However, speaking at United's press conference ahead of Saturday's home clash with Tottenham Hotspur, Ferguson revealed that the England striker is set for a longer lay-off, effectively ruling him out of the Manchester derby at Eastlands on November 10.
When asked if three weeks was still the prognosis, Ferguson said: "I think it may be longer."
The news will leave a sour taste for United, as Rooney has only just signed a fresh big-money contract following protracted negotiations, during which he initially announced he wanted to leave Old Trafford.
He has since been given permission to travel to Dubai to recuperate.
Ferguson said: "There is no recovery, it is just rest.
"Before he went away we did his remedial in terms of what we could do at the time. Thereafter, rest - we're quite happy with that."
Former United forward Cristiano Ronaldo last night backed Rooney to rediscover his form soon.
Like Rooney, Ronaldo performed poorly by his standards at last summer's World Cup - but has now scored 11 goals in his last six matches, including four in the 6-1 demolition of Racing Santander last weekend.
Ronaldo said: "I didn't start this season very well, either. But it is difficult to play at the highest level all the time.
"I just stayed calm, worked hard and did my job for the team and suddenly I scored a few goals - and everything changed.
"Football is like that. Sometimes we play bad and then you score a goal and everyone thinks differently about you. That will happen for Wayne."
Comment 199 - 218 of 218
Spurs oh yeah Gareths team ..
You notice theres nothing up about citeh since Rooneygate , mmm I think this was the biggest mind job in sport lead citeh on and BAM ! wheres ya money now sheiky .. you bought a curse ...
I can't wait to get thrashed by spurs. Come on 'arry....give it to us son.
Personally, I have wan/ked until I was blue in the face but never tried wan/king the dog. Sounds like great fun.
Rooney should of tried the homesick thing like Tevez. On second thoughts may be not who would believe he would want to go back to that cest pit know as Liverpool.
donneyled56 ur mum should av drowned you at birth, prick
i am happy to hear that Roooney signed amazing duration in Old trafford ,and my advice to Sir Alex, is that let him all the time put England stricker on action so that he gain his momentum before it may get late for Rooney to resume his best position ever
According to me, Rooney doesn,t has injuried only the manager wanted to forge that only to deny him opportunity to play as usually pliz you for him and continue playing to him for the best of the Clab
bandit ur a nob head
im gonna make a new id soon called dead uncle malcom(allison) now thats funny
James Munch is ,the real reaper,munich 1958,sid,skoal bandit amd all the other type clones,so be quiet rod munch this is my ony profile
James Munch.....how are you rich uncle malcolm ?
Only ana_l ManU fans still think Rooney is worth a thing. What a circus ManU have become! Matt Busby will be turning in his grave.
ManUre 0 Spuds 2, if there is a God and I hate Spuds.
rooney is the catalyst to the downturn of manchestercunts utd. can u name a nice manc. no. they are all blinkered, ignorant morons.
A: welcome you small minded mo_ron to the Rooneyfest.
Your beloved chum Rooney is under fire and soon he will perish in a festival of stupidity. You will no longer be able to excite yourself by looking at the posters on yoru bedroom wall and playing with your little Rooney. He's let you down; get over it.
How's the cloning? Still as stupid as ever in the way you spend your time? LOL at the morron-glace with the grace and charm of a t urd encrusted shoe.
dont worry readers James Munch is road testing a brain for a haddock lmao
James Munch are you some sort of gay housewife? you have been moaning about rooney all morning get over it or red something else polesmoker lmao
He'll be back!
This Rooneyfest has been going on for weeks. Is there any other news?
Oh nearly forgot there is a new perfume along the lines of Beckhams vanity products.
"Roo de Cologne". A lingering smell that won't go away.
Says 96 year old Mary Blowitoff from Ukraine now living in Lancs "It's persistent and lasts for weeks. I can still smell it on my breath. Reminds me of bins at the back of dodgy restaraunts".
Rooney has no fans he only has wide eyed blinking ex fans who have been let down. He has let the greed cat out of the bag. Go and check the Pri_vate Ey_e and see what they say about Stretford and Monk.
It's agents, gamblers and corporate grey men that run the game now why do you think that 'top' games are so boooring?
Rooney might be worth £50 week , but he ain't worth much more ! How much would the REAL players...Matthews, Lofthouse, Blanchflower etc be worth nowadays?
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