Source: Daily_Mail
Manchester United striker Rooney puts baby before Champions League clash
Wayne Rooney may miss Manchester United's Champions League trip to CSKA Moscow later this month to be at the birth of his first child.
Rooney still hopes to fly to Russia with the rest of Sir Alex Ferguson's squad as his wife Coleen is not due to give birth until after the Group B fixture on October 21.
But if there is any chance of the baby arriving prematurely, the England striker will stay behind with his wife in Cheshire as United look to maintain their 100 per cent record in Europe this season. Rooney said: 'Naturally I want to be there for the birth of my child and if anything happens around that time then I'm sure I will stay here.
'She is due just after the game. Of course it's a long way to Moscow but I have a job to do and unless anything changes I will be there.
'If everything is going to plan, then I will be there playing for United because that's what I'm paid to do.'
Rooney's dilemma echoes the issues faced by Andrew Flintoff and Andrew Strauss while on international duty with the England cricket team.
Flintoff decided to stay on tour in India rather than come home for the birth of his second child in February 2006, three months after Strauss caused controversy by leaving England's camp in Pakistan to be with his pregnant wife.
United's 2-1 victory against German side Wolfsburg at Old Traffordon Wednesday extended their winning run in all competitions to eightsince a shock defeat at newly-promoted Burnley in August.
It hasstill not satisfied some of their critics who feel United lack theswagger of recent seasons, but Rooney said: 'I feel we had unfaircriticism at the start of the season.
'We weren't playing as well as we could, but we have won every game since Burnley and yet this week we still get criticised.
'That's always going to happen at a club like this. But we have bounced back really well.
'We are playing different football to last season. Then the team wasbased a lot around Cristiano Ronaldo and now this year other playersare chipping in with goals.'
