Rooney to miss important fixtures - Irish Times

irishtimes.com - Last Updated: Sunday, August 26, 2012, 09:09

Soccer: Wayne Rooney was being treated in hospital last night after suffering a nasty leg injury in Manchester United's Premier League match with Fulham.

The English striker was stretchered off the Old Trafford field after the accidental clash with Hugo Rodallega in the home side's 3-2 victory. He is expected to be out of action for four weeks.

Rooney was charging down a shot by the Fulham substitute, whose boot connected with the England striker's leg. Television pictures showed a severe gash down Rooney's right leg, with blood coming from the deep wound.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: "It was a very bad one. He has gone to hospital. It looks like he will be out for four weeks." If Ferguson's assessment proves correct it would rule Rooney out of England's Euro 2012 double-header with Moldova and Ukraine at the beginning of next month.

In addition, the 26-year-old would miss the start of United's Champions League campaign, whilst also making him a major doubt for the Red Devils' crucial trip to Liverpool on September 23rd. "You have to be wary of infection and that kind of thing so he has gone to the best place and hopefully he will be okay," added Ferguson.

"Rodallega followed through and caught him - but it was an accident of course." Rooney's injury capped a bad day for the striker, who had been dropped by Ferguson, who handed Robin van Persie his first start.

That Van Persie levelled Damien Duff's early opener and impressive strike partner Shinji Kagawa also got his name on the score-sheet made it doubtful Rooney would have started at Southampton next Sunday anyway even without his enforced lay-off.

Certainly Ferguson was happy at the way Van Persie and Kagawa combined in a thrilling first-half display. "It was fine. Obviously it is early doors and there will be a better understanding as time goes on."

And it seems Ferguson is intent on operating with someone occupying a deeper role behind Van Persie, suggesting Rooney will not be able to take his first-team place for granted." We normally do that, whether it is Wayne who plays in that role, or Danny Welbeck can do it. Ashley Young and Ryan Giggs can play there. We have options that way."

That United should be so imperious before the break but end up clinging on just added to a strange day that included the presentations of Olympic superstar Usain Bolt, in addition to long-jump goal medallist Greg Rutherford on the pitch. Bolt had not even take his seat when Duff put the visitors in front.

However, United responded by creating a succession of opportunities and they were well worth the half-time advantage provided by Van Persie, Kagawa and Rafael, who headed home just before the interval.

After the break though United's defensive frailties came back to haunt them, with David de Gea getting in a real mess trying to clear a routine cross, which ended with Nemanja Vidic putting the ball into his own net. "The first-half performance was fantastic," said Ferguson.

"It could have been five, six; anything. But we made a terrible mistake for the second goal and it becomes a match. Before that it had never been a match.

Ferguson confirmed Jonny Evans would have been available off the bench in an emergency, although in the end the Northern Irishman was not needed and should be available for Sunday's trip to Southampton.