Injured Wayne Rooney in doubt for Manchester derby

Manchester: Wayne Rooney is battling to be fit for Manchester United’s derby clash with Manchester City next Sunday after limping away from training with a foot injury on Monday.

The United captain, who completed a three-match suspension by watching the 1-1 draw against Chelsea from the Old Trafford directors’ box on Sunday, had been expected to return to Louis van Gaal’s team for the match against the champions at the Etihad Stadium this weekend.

However, he is now a doubt for the match as a result of the foot problem that has left him limping heavily. It is the latest injury blow to Van Gaal’s squad this season, with Phil Jones now facing a spell on the sidelines amid concerns that the centre-half is suffering from shin splints.

Rooney was able to attend a commercial event at Old Trafford on Monday afternoon to promote a partnership with the watchmaker Bulova, but the player was described as being in visible discomfort as he walked away from a photograph on the pitch with the rest of the first-team squad.

With the Colombian forward Radamel Falcao still undergoing treatment for the thigh injury that forced him to miss the Chelsea match, Rooney’s potential absence against City would be a huge blow for Van Gaal and United.

The England captain holds the record for most goals scored in Manchester derbies, with 11 in 22 games for United against City. He has scored five goals in his last four visits to the Etihad Stadium.

Van Gaal had been planning to restore Rooney to the starting eleven in place of the Spanish midfielder Juan Mata, who may now earn a reprieve in the No.10 role. United are hopeful, however, that Rooney can overcome the problem over the next six days so he can line up on Sunday.

Falcao, who continues to search for full match fitness after sustaining a cruciate ligament injury while playing for Monaco in January, is understood to have a good chance of being fit to return to the squad against City. He underwent intensive treatment at United’s Carrington training ground over the weekend after sustaining a kick on the thigh, but was unable to recover in time to face Chelsea.

Van Gaal is optimistic, though, that the 28-year-old will respond to treatment this week and declare himself fit for the derby.

“Falcao took a kick in training on Thursday and couldn’t play [against Chelsea] because of that,” he said. “We’ll have to wait and see, but I don’t think the injury is too bad. The Chelsea match came too soon for him.”

Van Gaal, meanwhile, has told Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini that he will not be sold during the January transfer window.

Fellaini, a £27.5 million (Dh162.66 million) signing from Everton by David Moyes, the former United manager, last season, has impressed in draws against West Bromwich Albion and Chelsea over the past week after being handed an opportunity by Van Gaal, who has cited the player’s physical presence as a key factor in his return to the team.

Van Gaal had been ready to listen to offers for Fellaini, having succeeded Moyes this summer, but the Dutchman is now ready to assess his contribution for the remainder of the season before deciding on his long-term future.

— The Telegraph Group Limited, London 2014