Rooney has an ankle injury

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

probably never recovered

 

Manchester United's match against Valencia at the Mestalla on Wednesday looks to have turned into an even more severe test after yesterday's 2-2 draw with Bolton Wanderers todaywas accompanied by a number of injury concerns for Sir Alex Ferguson.

 

Ryan Giggs strained a hamstringat the Reebok Stadium that will rule him out for a fortnight. Rio Ferdinand, who was not involved in the match, may well return but there is no certainty over a centre-half with back-related problems whose appearances are now intermittent and Wayne Rooney is also a worry. The injury that saw him replaced at Bolton was more than a random knock, even though the attacker is expected to face Valencia.

 

"He has a little issue with his ankle," said United's assistant manager, Mike Phelan, who said it would be examined tomorrow morning. "He has been playing with it for a couple of weeks now and we decided he wasn't getting into the areas we wanted and he wasn't getting chances, so we had to change it."

 

A point against Bolton was satisfactory since United were twice behind and by drawing had a better weekend than the other Champions League representatives, Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs, who were all defeated. However, it is Ferguson's men who are under the greater stress on the European front after the 0-0 draw with Rangers in their opening game.

 

Ferguson did, however, see some encouraging signs at the Reebok. "In the first half we should have done better but we did well to come from behind," he said. "The second half was very even. Bolton were a real handful and our chances were reduced but we must take credit for coming back again."

 

The second of United's levellers was expertly taken by the substitute Michael Owen for his first league goal of the season. It brings him more strongly into contention to be in the starting line-up against Valencia but his satisfaction after the Bolton game was qualified.

 

He claimed his goal was "tinged with a bit of disappointment" and rued the fact that United had only partly exploited their opportunity. "We were helped with a few nice results [on Saturday]," said Owen, "but when you don't capitalise fully it is disappointing."

 

Underachievement by United is partly linked to Rooney's subdued form, although sympathy for him is diminishing. As Kevin Keegan – one of the match analysts at the Reebok – remarked, a person who reportedly sold his wedding photographs to the press cannot complain too much if newspapers then carry other pictures that are not to Rooney's liking.

[sutty]

He was wearing gloves at the reebok on Sunday. In September.

 

Even digger would have been out there is short sleeves with his thighs shimmering from the application of a glistening lotion at this time of year

[Barnesy_10]

What Keegan has said today is bang on about him....

 

 

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1315446/Rooneys-blame-Manchester-United-star-Wayne-shot-pieces-fault-blasts-Kevin-Keegan.html

 

 

'You can't have all the contracts, you can't sell your wedding to magazines and things like this and suddenly say, "That's the tap I want to turn on, but we want to turn the other one off",' said Keegan.

[Swipe]

Hasn't flew out to Valenia with the Manc squad, apparently.

[Leo No.8]

Hasn't flew out to Valenia with the Manc squad, apparently.

 

Prossies of Manchester, keep your eyes on your phones. Prossies of Valencia, stand down.

Edited September 27, 2010 by Leo No.8