Wayne Rooney’s stop-start season has reportedly taken another his with a muscle injury potentially keeping the England captain out of Manchester United’s trip to Chelsea.
Depending on who you believe, the striker/midfielder/wherever-he-wants-er has either not travelled down with the squad, or is a significant doubt for the game.
Rooney will have hoped to build on a rare start against Fenerbahçe in the Europa League, but instead it now looks as though manager José Mourinho will add the former Everton man to an injury list which already includes fellow attacking option Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
United fans struggled to contain their emotions after learning one of their most decorated players would likely have to sit out Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge.
https://twitter.com/UnitedStandMUFC/status/789870535949910021
https://twitter.com/Herrera_Girl/status/789949456527593477
Best news since De Gea's failed move Madrid
— Ahmadranking (@Ahmadranking_) October 22, 2016
Meanwhile there were suggestions he might use the opportunity to catch up with an old pal who also won’t be involved in West London.
https://twitter.com/LeeDehaoVictor/status/790002749605675009
Blues fans, meanwhile, were counting their blessings that the biggest name in the opposition squad was missing out.
Rooney not being in the Matchday squad for Manchester United will be a huge blow to Chelsea.
— P (@ForeverBlue_07) October 23, 2016
https://twitter.com/DeadIyEden/status/789949738221236224
It clearly meant a lot to the neutrals, too.
— Tottenham Independent Transfer Stories (@bankruptspurs) October 22, 2016
Rooney was always unlikely to start the game, after being among the substitutes for the league matches against Leicester City, Stoke City and Liverpool.
Victory for United would lift them above their opponents into fifth place, while victory for Chelsea would move them within a point of current league leaders Arsenal.
In the latest GAA Hour, we talk to Ken McGrath of Waterford and with Declan Brennan about a new club players’ association.
