SOCCER SUNDERLAND v MANCHESTER UNITED:WAYNE ROONEY will be included in Fabio Capello's England squad on Monday for their Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro after Alex Ferguson confirmed the striker's ankle was not as badly injured as he had originally stated.
Ferguson had said on Tuesday that Rooney was facing up to three weeks on the sidelines but inquiries by England’s medical staff subsequently established he had been able to train on Thursday without any problem and, consequently, that there should be no issue about his availability for the game at Wembley on October 12th.
Rooney has also informed Ferguson he wants to play against Sunderland today, but a scan has shown minor ligament damage and the manager has concerns about aggravating the problem.
“He’s been playing for a few weeks with this niggling ankle injury and he’s kept it to himself so it comes to a point where he suffers and it meant we didn’t take him to Valencia (for Wednesday’s 1-0 win),” Ferguson said.
“He thinks he’s fit because he always thinks he’s fit and that’s the problem with the lad; he’s always too willing to play even with injuries, which is a great trait to have for any footballer.
“He wants to play but I have to take the view that this injury has been niggling away for a while and he kept on playing. I have to be dead sure I am doing the right thing because Wayne has not been doing himself justice. The Montenegro match is another 10 days away and by that time I would expect Wayne to be 100 per cent.”
Ferguson has a number of other problems ahead of the trip to the Stadium of Light, with Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Antonio Valencia injured, Park Ji-sung admitting to being out of form, and fitness issues surrounding three other players.
“Travelling back from Valencia and not getting in until 2.30am (on Thursday) is an issue for us and we’ve had to check Rio (Ferdinand), Michael Carrick and Anderson because it was their first real game for six months. Rio played against Rangers and against Scunthorpe but that was a real game on Wednesday and you have to go back to April when he was playing consistently . . . ”
Steve Bruce, meanwhile, sees no indications that the man he still calls “the boss” is ready for retirement but Sunderland’s manager believes Jose Mourinho may eventually prove the ideal replacement for Ferguson.
“Sir Alex still looks very well but his own personal health will determine how long he stays at Old Trafford,” said Bruce, who is keen to record a first win against his former manager today. “After speaking to Sir Alex in the last few weeks he’s certainly got the hunger and the desire. We talk pretty regularly and I still call him boss because he is the boss.”
Bruce’s hunch is that when the time comes United may import the solution from Real Madrid. “Jose Mourinho would be a huge candidate. His record speaks for itself and I don’t think United will be getting a manager from Aberdeen like last time. The previous regime might have gone for a British manager but I’m not sure now.”
Guardian Service
