Rooney unlikely to return after three-week lay-off

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney could be out for longer than the three weeks first thought, manager Sir Alex Ferguson has said.Rooney, who signed a new five-year contract at Old Trafford last week, is currently away resting after suffering an ankle injury.When asked at a press conference on Friday if three weeks was still the prognosis, Ferguson said: "I think it may be longer."Rooney, 25, was injured in training last week during an extraordinary few days that ended with him committing his future to the club after previously stating a desire to leave.He has since been given permission to travel to Dubai to recuperate.Ferguson said: "There is no recovery, it is just rest. Before he went away we did his remedial in terms of what we could do at the time. Thereafter, rest - we're quite happy with that."