Rooney to return next month

Manchester United FC will have to wait longer than anticipated for Wayne Rooney's debut in a red shirt after the England striker was ruled out of action for a further three weeks.

Next month
United confirmed that the 18-year-old was unlikely to appear before the beginning of next month, meaning that not only will he miss the opening Group D match at Olympique Lyonnais next Wednesday but also the home game against Fenerbahçe SK on 28 September.

Scan results
Rooney, who became the most expensive teenager in football history when he joined from Everton FC at the end of last month, broke a metatarsal bone in his foot while playing for England against Portugal in the UEFA EURO 2004™ quarter-final. Following a scan a week ago, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said Rooney would be "ready in maybe three weeks".

'Coming along fine'
"Wayne is coming along fine," said Sir Alex. "But after the injury he has had, he is still working with the remedial department. He is training on his own at the moment and he should be ready in maybe three weeks." The striker could also miss England's FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Azerbaijan on 9 and 13 October.

Striking problems
Sir Alex is short of strikers at the moment. Ruud van Nistelrooij has not played yet this season due to a hernia problem, although he will be in the squad for tomorrow's game at Bolton Wanderers FC, while Louis Saha is considered doubtful for the trip to Lyon next week after picking up a knee injury playing for France against the Faroe Islands.

Defensive boost
On the plus side, defender Gary Neville - injured during England's match in Poland - "should be OK" for Lyon, according to Sir Alex, who will also have new Argentinian signing Gabriel Heinze available for the first time this weekend.