Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is set to be sidelined for a month after suffering a hamstring injury training in Thailand on th club's tour of the Far East and Australia, the Premier League champions confirmed yesterday.
“Following a scan this evening on a hamstring injury sustained in training, it has been decided that Wayne Rooney should return home immediately for further assessment and rehabilitation,” United said on www.manutd.com.
"It is anticipated he will be unavailable for selection for a month," added the statement as Rooney prepared to fly back from Bangkok for treatment.
Doubtful
Rooney will be doubtful for the Community Shield clash with FA Cup winners Wigan Athletic at Wembley in the traditional season curtain-raiser on August 11t.
He has been the subject of transfer speculation since retired United manager Alex Ferguson revealed at the end of last season the England forward had asked for a transfer.
However, new United coach Moyes reiterated on Wednesday Rooney was not for sale and would not be leaving the club.
“I have met Wayne two, three, four times. A lot has been said about myself and Wayne over the years but we have a really good relationship,” said the Scot, who was manager of Everton when Rooney began his career on Merseyside.
“He is training great. They are telling me it is the best shape they have seen him in for a long time . . . I am going to try and get the best Wayne Rooney I possibly can,” he added.
United open their tour against a Singha All-Star X1 in Bangkok tomorrow and will also play in Sydney, Yokohama, Osaka and Hong Kong before facing AIK in Stockholm on August 6th.
United appear to have missed out on their number one transfer target Thiago Alcantara after reports that Bayern Munich have agreed a deal with the Barcelona midfielder.
Pep Guardiola, who oversaw Thiago's development when in charge at Barcelona, made his play for the 22-year-old yesterday. According to reports in Italy, where Bayern are training, the Spaniard will sign a four-year deal with the European champions.
'A Super, super player'
Guardiola had described Thiago as "a super, super player" who "can play in three, four or five positions. It is either Thiago or nothing".
Moyes had hoped to make Thiago, who led the Spain Under-21 team to the Euro 2013 title and scored a hat-trick in the final against Italy, his first major signing as United manager.
Midfielder Victor Wanyama became the first Kenyan to sign for an English Premier League club when he moved from Scottish champions Celtic to Southampton on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee, whileSwansea have confirmed the signing of Ivory Coast international forward Wilfried Bony for €14 million from Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem on a four-year deal.
