Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has confirmed captain Wayne Rooney would miss out on next month's England friendly double-header as he continues his recovery from a knee injury.
The 30-year-old England striker was first expected to be ruled out until April after playing in the 2-1 defeat to Sunderland earlier this month when it was revealed he had damaged knee ligaments.
England travel to world champions Germany in a friendly on March 26 before they face Holland three days later at Wembley.
Any news of an early comeback was quashed on Sunday as Van Gaal told Daily Star Sunday: "No, he won't be ready for England next month."
Before he was reported in several newspapers as saying: "Wayne has a brace fitted now and he has to wear it for two-and-a-half weeks.
"After that we then have to look again. Now he's resting and isn't able to do any work yet.
"He has to be ready for us - not the English team."
Source: PA
