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Rooney adds to United’s injury woes

Comment: 0 January 27th, 2012

WAYNE Rooney is not in perfect shape and Manchester United’s other key men are plagued by injuries.

These are danger signs for United that could bode well for Liverpool – at least in their FA Cup grudge match at Anfield on Saturday.

There are possibilities that Rooney could play but he won’t probably be 100 percent.

The United main man has not trained all week due to knee and ankle knocks he incurred during their tussle against Arsenal last weekend.

He would be ruled out of the fourth-round tie tiff against the Reds if he can’t still join the Red Devils’ pre-match scrimmages.

Without their 18-goal top scorer, United are expected to find the going rough as they gird for an expected hostile reception at Merseyside.

The coming match will be held in the wake of the recent racial slur row between United defender Patrice Evra and Reds striker Luis Suarez, who is currently under suspension.

It’s not only Rooney though who is doubtful to play.

Sir Alex Ferguson is also worried because Nani and Phil Jones will not see action and are two of the 10 senior first-team players currently beset by injuries. Nani and Jones are both nursing ankle problems.

Nani could be absent for more than two weeks, while Jones could be back in harness against Stoke on Tuesday night.

The absence of captain Nemanja Vidic left United short of defenders as Rio Ferdinand was also tagged as doubtful starter.

Ashley Young and Tom Cleverley are not yet ready for a comeback but could return and play some part in United’s fixture at Chelsea next Sunday.

Young has not seen action for about five week snow after injuring his knee at Fulham, while Cleverley has missed much of the term due to an ailing foot.

Because of fears that Evra might be jeered no end by Liverpool fans because of his rift with Suarez, Ferguson had earlier thought of leaving him out but changed his minds and announced he would field in the French defender.

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