Manchester United striker, Wayne Rooney will miss Sunday’s Premier League clash against north-west rivals Liverpool after failing to recover from a knee injury, manager Alex Ferguson said on Friday.
Rooney injured a knee ligament in training and missed United’s holiday fixtures against Newcastle United, West Bromwich Albion and Wigan Athletic as well as their FA Cup draw at West Ham United.
“Wayne Rooney is still out,” Ferguson told reporters. “I am hoping he will start training today actually, in which case he won’t be far away. I don’t think it is an issue, but we need to guide him along.
“In terms of the injury he had, it’s quite straightforward so if he starts today, I assume he will be available for Wednesday’s replay (against West Ham).”
United sit atop the Premier League table with 52 points while their opponents are 21 points further adrift in eighth place.
The fixture, however, remains crucial as ever, according to Ferguson.
“The derby game against Liverpool never changes,” he said. It’s always an immensely important game – intense, emotional. We are going into the game in reasonable form.”
