MANCHESTER UNITED WILL have to do without their captain, Wayne Rooney, in this evening’s game against Liverpool after the striker injured his hamstring in training yesterday.
According to a report in the Manchester Evening News, Rooney sustained the injury at United’s training base at Carrington and will sit out the game at Old Trafford.
It’s believed the England striker was not with Louis van Gaal’s squad at the team hotel on the eve of the game and is now also a doubt for United’s first Champions League group game against PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday.
Rooney became England’s leading international goalscorer during the week as his penalty against Switzerland saw him surpass Sir Bobby Charlton.
If he is unavailable for the visit of the Reds, it would be a huge blow for the hosts.
His absence may, however, create an opening for United’s newest recruit, Anthony Martial, who was signed before the end of the transfer window.
The French teenager cost United £36 million on deadline day, although van Gaal has hinted he will not throw the forward in at the deep end just yet.
It would leave van Gaal short of options and further expose their failings in the transfer market.
James Wilson would be the only recognised striker but he has yet to feature this term while Marouane Fellaini is also an option having been deployed as an auxiliary forward on several occasions this season.
Kick-off at Old Trafford is at 5.30pm.
