When out of action, Wayne Rooney plays with tiger in Dubai

English footballer Wayne Rooney was granted a short break with his wife Coleen as he continues to recover from a knee ligament injury which has ruled him out of action.

Rooney's warm-weather break to Dubai was a chance for recuperation but the Manchester United captain still found time to keep himself busy.

The 30-year-old was in town last week but put his right knee to the test as he petted a tiger during a visit to a private farm.

He wore a protective brace for his right knee as he was pohotographed playing with a Big Cat and feeding a giraffe during his visit.

The trip was also a break for Coleen after the birth of their third son, Kit, in January.

Arabic daily Emarat Al Youm, reported that the photographs were taken at a private farm in Al Khawaneej.

Instagram/Play Restaurant

Mohammad Abbas, brother of Al Nasr left back Hussain Abbas, was at the farm during Rooney's visit and praised the British footballer.

He told Emarat Al Youm: "Sometimes, you can tell if a person is arrogant from the way they talk, but Rooney is very down-to-earth and kind-hearted, I didn't expect that. He spoke to us about his professional and personal life comfortably like any ordinary person.

"He told us about the players he likes and who he doesn't, and also told us that Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player he has ever played with."

Instagram/moumen.alrifai

Play restaurant, H-Hotel Dubai, have also uploaded a picture of the player to their Instagram account with the caption, "Only with the best PLAYers in the world! Wayne Rooney at PLAY last night."

Rooney damaged his knee during a recent match at Sunderland, and there were fears that the 30-year-old would need surgery and could even miss the Euro 2016 finals in France, which start in June this year.

On Sunday United's No 10 was spotted out walking with his wife in England without his knee brace - in a boost to all those connected with the Old Trafford outfit.

Red Devils manager Louis van Gaal recently raised the possibility of Rooney returning to action sooner than expected and that could be the case as he walked without his knee brace.

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