Close to comeback: Wayne RooneySir Alex Ferguson could spring the surprise of the season by including Wayne Rooney in his plans for the Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
The Manchester United manager said Rooney would be sidelined for ‘two or three weeks’ after suffering ankle ligament damage in last Tuesday’s 2-1 first leg defeat in Munich.
But Rooney has responded well to intensive treatment and, according to sources close to the England striker, is considered to be ‘moving closer’ to a return.
Ferguson will not put the rest of Rooney’s season at risk and will wait until tomorrow before making a decision. If the 24-year-old cannot rejoin his colleagues in training then, he will not be included.
But Ferguson and Rooney are quietly hoping he will be fit to make a sensational return at Old Trafford and increase United’s chances of progressing to the semi-finals.
Quick healer: Rooney could return to action this weekSaturday’s 2-1 home defeat by Chelsea highlighted how much United miss their talismanic striker and with the Barclays Premier League title race no longer in their hands, Ferguson realises their best chance of adding to their Carling Cup glory this season is in Europe.
If United’s medical staff are confident Rooney can play without aggravating what was described as a ‘minor’ injury last week, Ferguson will recall him to the squad.
Decision time: Sir Alex FergusonFerguson appeared to write off United’s title hopes after Chelsea went top with their victory at Old Trafford.
But Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose side are three points behind Chelsea, is refusing to accept United are a beaten team.
He said: ‘I don’t think Man United will give up. You can’t say you give up if Chelsea have to go to Liverpool and Tottenham. Anything can happen.
'You can have a player sent-off in the first minute and you can lose the game. If Man United want to give up, we have no problem with it. But I don’t think they will.’
source: dailymail
