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29 March 2024

Rooney a major doubt for crucial Euro 2012 tie

Rooney is unlikely to be rushed back for the Premier League clash againt Norwich on Saturday. (FILE)

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By Staff

Manchester United’s talisman Wayne Rooney remains a major doubt for England’s decisive Euro 2012 qualifier tie in Montenegro.
 
Rooney will miss Manchester United’s Champions League tie with FC Basel on Tuesday night, with Sir Alex Ferguson unable to say whether the striker will be fit for Saturday’s visit of Norwich to Old Trafford.
 
The ‘Daily Mirror’ reported that although Rooney was able to do some light jogging at United’s training ground on Monday, Ferguson and his staff are reluctant to rush him back too early and risk further damage to his tight hamstring (https://bit.ly/qSbokz).
 
If Rooney misses the Norwich game at the weekend, it would almost certainly rule him out of Fabio Capello’s squad for the showdown with Montenegro on October 7.

Asked about the extent of Rooney’s injury, which kept him out of United’s 1-1 draw at Stoke on Saturday, Ferguson said: “He’s not playing (against Basel).
 
“But it’s difficult to assess a hamstring injury. We hope we get him back quickly.
 
“He did a bit of jogging this morning but that’s all, so it’s difficult to say.”
 
Although Rooney said on his official twitter account that he would be fit to face Norwich, United’s medical team are understood to be in no mood to take any unnecessary risks with the striker’s fitness.
 
Rooney heads a list of eight United stars missing from Tuesday night’s Group C game, with Ferguson having to reshuffle his personnel with so many changes brought about through injuries.
 
Ferguson is also without Javier Hernandez for the visit of the Swiss champions, the Mexico striker coming off early against Stoke after suffering a dead leg in a collision with keeper Asmir Begovic.
 
Defenders Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans are also absent while skipper Nemanja Vidic, who suffered a calf injury six weeks ago on the opening weekend of the season at West Brom, has yet to resume training.
 
“With Hernandez it was straightforward,” said Ferguson. “It was a dead leg he got and should be ready for next Saturday. That was an accident, a complete accident.
 
“Smalling and Evans are also not available. Smalling has a groin injury and Evans is an ankle injury.”


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