Manchester United Football Club News

• Nickname:Red Devils
• Founded:1878
• Manager:Sir Alex Ferguson

• Ground:Old Trafford
• Capacity:68,174

Rooney to captain United

11 Dec 2007 - 09:47:21

Click To Enlarge

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has been handed the captain's armband for Wednesday's Champions League clash with AS Roma in the Italian capital.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will use many of his fringe first-team players in the game as his side have already sealed their place in the last 16 of the competition as group winners.

Only three members of the side that beat Derby County 4-1 on Saturday - Rooney, Wes Brown and Michael Carrick - have travelled to Rome, with youngsters Febian Brandy and Sam Hewson included in the 20-man squad for the trip.

"He (Rooney) has been pestering me for quite a while now, so I've given in," said Ferguson.

Rooney has captained United once before - in last season's Champions League win against FC Copenhagen at Old Trafford.

Danny Simpson, Jonny Evans, Nani, Darren Fletcher and Louis Saha have also been included in the United squad for the trip to Rome.