Manchester United FC

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• Manager:Sir Alex Ferguson

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Virus sidelines Rooney

05 Aug 2008 - 15:11:09

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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson fears that Wayne Rooney will miss the start of the new season after the England international picked up a virus on the club's pre-season trip to Nigeria.

The 22-year-old did not feature in last month's game against Portsmouth in the Nigerian capital of Abuja, and has also missed United's recent friendly matches against Espanyol and Peterborough.

United are scheduled to face Newcastle on Sunday 17 August but Ferguson confirmed: "I doubt we'll get Rooney fit for the start of the season with the virus he's had.

"It's a virus he picked up in Nigeria and it's not a nice one, but quite a few have had it.

"It's such a bad virus and he's got to be training to be fit.

"They've said it's a bad virus and Wayne's not back in yet, he's not been training. It's been a long time."

Ferguson is already without Cristiano Ronaldo for the first two months of the season following the Portugal international's recent ankle surgery while Nani is suspended and Anderson is on Olympic duty with Brazil.