Wayne Rooney to treat ankle injury in the United States
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney will leave England to spend a week in the United States rehabilitating his ankle injury.
Rooney signed a five-year contract with United on 22 October, shortly after declaring his intention to leave Sir Alex Ferguson's side.
The striker has scored one goal in six league appearances this season, but has not featured since United's 2–2 draw with West Bromwich Albion on 16 October.
Mike Phelan, United's assistant manager, spoke on Rooney's situation at a press conference on Friday, 5 November.
"He can go there without the attention he'd get here," Phelan said, adding that Rooney could use some time away from the media spotlight. "He needs the conditioning. We all agree with that. We have the facilities [in Manchester], but we just thought it might
be in the interests of him and the club to have a change of scenery for a little while."
Could return against Wigan Athletic
On Tuesday, 2 November, Ferguson predicted that Rooney would not return to United's first team for another three weeks.
If the manager's estimate holds true, the striker could feature in the team's league encounter with Wigan Athletic on 20 November. Four days later, United travel to face Rangers FC in the Champions League.
In the US, Rooney is expected to train at the Nike World Campus in Oregon. The trip comes after the player was granted time off to travel to Dubai with his family.
Phelan, a former United player who was appointed as Ferguson's assistant in September 2008 and often shoulders the Scot's press responsibilities, said the hope is for Rooney to be fit once he returns to England.
"He has had a lot of attention lately and we want to give him the best opportunity he possibly can to be in good shape when he returns."
United host Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Saturday, 6 November.
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