Source: Telegraph
Wayne Rooney absent from Manchester United training
The birth is nine days overdue and Rooney's absence has heightened belief that the England striker is shortly to become a father for the first time. [LNB]If this is the case, Rooney will almost certainly be excused from duty against CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford on Tuesday, given United require just one more win to qualify for the knockout phase. [LNB]Central defensive duo Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic were also absent with ankle problems.[LNB]Vidic is understood to have an outside chance of facing the Russians. But Ferdinand, 31 this Saturday, has been ruled out by Sir Alex Ferguson, who admits the England man must now focus on getting fit for Sunday's trip to Chelsea. [LNB]Jonny Evans and Wes Brown combined against Blackburn to help United keep their first clean sheet in the league since the 2-0 win at Stoke in September. [LNB]And although the pair remain understudies to Ferdinand and Vidic, Ferguson insists there are very few partnerships as good as United's back-up centre-halves. [LNB]He said: "A lot has been made about Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic being out, but when you have the back-up of Jonny Evans and Wes Brown it can't be bad. [LNB]"There aren't many partnerships in the Premier League better than Brown and Evans. [LNB]"We sent Vidic to a specialist and, hopefully, he's going to be all right on Tuesday. [LNB]"Rio is having treatment and Ryan Giggs, too, so neither will make Tuesday and we have a fight on our hands to have them ready for Chelsea on Sunday." [LNB]Dimitar Berbatov was also missing from training, but there was some good news as Park Ji-sung was able to return after a recent absence with fluid on his knee.[LNB]
