6 Nov 2010

Rooney to go to USA

5:30 am on 6 November 2010

Manchester United will send injured forward Wayne Rooney to the United States for a week of intense conditioning away from the media spotlight.

The England striker, who has been sidelined for several weeks, will miss tonight's home Premier League game against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Wednesday's derby at Manchester City.

Rooney, who has been in the headlines for several months in the run-up to signing a five-year deal to stay at Old Trafford because of allegations about his private life and his poor form, has been struggling with an ankle injury.

Assistant manager Mike Phelan says Rooney would be under the supervision of United's medical staff during his week at a training facility in Oregon, on the west coast of the United States.

United are without several injured players for the Wolves match, which falls on the day manager Sir Alex Ferguson celebrates 24 years at the club.