Rooney absent from open training
Wayne Rooney did not take part in the open section of Manchester United’s training session at Carrington this morning ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League quarter-final with Bayern Munich at Old Trafford.
Rooney sustained minor ligament damage to his right ankle in the last minute of the first leg last Tuesday, leading to Alex Ferguson stating the England star would be missing for at least a fortnight.
However, there has been speculation that Rooney could be involved tomorrow, when United will look to overturn a 2-1 deficit.
The rumours have only intensified since Saturday’s home defeat to Chelsea, which has made the Stamford Bridge outfit overwhelming favourites to clinch the Premier League title.
The absence of Rooney from the first 15 minutes of training before the cameras have to leave is not in itself a definitive guide as to whether he will be involved tomorrow.
Indeed, it could be in Ferguson’s interests to keep the 24-year-old out of the limelight as Bayern coach Louis van Gaal will not know whether to prepare to face the 34-goal striker.
The one piece of good news for Ferguson is the likely availability of John O’Shea, who has not played since suffering complications in his recovery from a dead leg sustained in the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup play-off defeat to France in November.
