Wayne Rooney Ruled Out Of Manchester United's Far East Tour With Hamstring Injury

Wayne Rooney has left Manchester United’s Far East tour and returned home with a hamstring injury that may rule him out of the start of the Premier League season. 

Wayne Rooney will fly home from Manchester United's Far East tour

United said Rooney sustained the damage in training shortly after arriving in Thailand on Wednesday. A club statement confirmed he was expected to miss the next month.  With the England striker’s future still uncertain, the setback has come at a sensitive time for the player and new manager David Moyes.

Conspiracy theories have been aired. Eyebrows were raised because Rooney spent just 16 hours in Bangkok before his club decided to send him home, although it is understood he has a medium-grade or ‘grade two’ hamstring injury – which causes pain when the muscle is stretched and contracted. “Following a scan this evening on a hamstring injury sustained in training, it has been decided Wayne Rooney should return home immediately for further assessment and rehabilitation,” the club said in a statement.

Chelsea are expected to make a bid for Rooney following a notably prolonged period without a public statement from the 27-year-old committing himself to Old Trafford. As he begins rehabilitation in an effort to be fit for the Premier League kick-off, his present and potential future employers will wonder when he will be next in action. Chelsea also arrive in Bangkok on Friday to begin their summer tour.

Rooney will struggle to be fit for the start of the season if the early diagnosis is correct. United are due to face Wigan in the Community Shield on Aug 11 and begin the defence of their title at Swansea the following weekend. Rooney must also be doubtful for England’s friendly against Scotland on Aug 14. Only last week, United’s players and coaches were suggesting Rooney had returned from his summer break in the best shape for years.

Moyes, who is due to face the media in Thailand on Friday, has insisted Rooney will remain at United despite Sir Alex Ferguson claiming the striker had asked to leave last May. Rooney disputes Ferguson’s claim, but he will have to force the issue eventually if he is to leave Old Trafford. There are risks in demanding a transfer, however, which will be accentuated by any injury problem as it could scupper any hope he has of an imminent move. There is simmering ill-feeling between Rooney and United supporters, a relationship that was already on delicate ground as a result of his first transfer request two years ago. Should United not budge or refuse offers for Rooney, he would be left isolated as he prepares for a pivotal year for club and country.

With Thiago opting to leave Barcelona to play more regular football in an effort to break into Spain’s World Cup squad, Bayern’s capture of Borussia Dortmund midfielder Mario Götze could play in United’s favour, however. The European champions already appear well-stocked with attacking midfielders, raising the prospect of Thiago enduring a similar lack of action at the Allianz Arena.

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