Rooney to miss season's start

Wayne Rooney is likely to miss the start of the 2008/09 season after picking up a virus on United's recent trip to Nigeria.

The 22-year-old didn't play in the friendly with Portsmouth in Abuja, and has subsequently missed matches against Espanyol and Peterborough.

Sir Alex hoped Rooney would make rapid progress in the last few days, but it now appears unlikely that he will make 2008/09's curtain raiser against Newcastle on Sunday 17 August.

"You worry about having a team for the start of the season," Sir Alex said at a press conference to mark the U15 Manchester United Premier Cup tournament at Carrington. "Nani is suspended, Anderson's at the Olympics and I doubt if we'll get Wayne fit for the start of the season."

It's deeply frustrating for Rooney, whose start to the 2007/08 campaign was disrupted when he suffered a broken metatarsal on the opening day against Reading.

"It's a virus that we believe he picked up in Nigeria. It's not a nice one," added Sir Alex. "Carrick also had it, but he came in today (Tuesday) and hopefully he'll play some part against Portsmouth on Sunday."

However, Rooney's chances of being available to kick-off United's Double defence are not so promising. "The season starts in 12 days, but it's such a bad virus that he's not trained since we got back from Africa on 28 July. It's a long time."

United's doctors are currently treating the virus at the club's training ground. "We have a laboratory here so we have all the facilities to do these things now," added the boss, before adding: "The players all had malaria tablets before they went to Africa so it's nothing to do with that."