Wayne Rooney is hoping to be fit to return for Manchester United following the Easter period.
The United and England skipper has been on the sidelines with a knee injury since the defeat against Sunderland in mid-February, and will miss crucial games with Liverpool and Manchester City this week, as well as the Three Lions’ friendlies with Netherlands and Germany during the upcoming international break.
But the 30-year-old is optimistic that he will be available for selection in April.
Speaking at the announcement of United’s new partnership with oil company Gulf, Rooney said:
Everything is going as planned. Rehab is going well but, hopefully, it won’t be too long.
I don’t know [when I will return]. Obviously, I will miss the international games but, hopefully, it won’t be too long. It’s not too bad but obviously, it’s [a case of] just being a bit cautious. It’s difficult to push back. If I tried to push it to be involved now, it could cause more damage. So, being cautious, after the international break is more realistic.
I am hoping that, if I am back when I am expected to be back, depending on the two cups we are in, then there could be over 10 games left plus the England games.
I was saying before it has been eight games that I have missed. I didn’t realise it was that many so it’s obviously really frustrating. Myself, the manager and the doctor felt it was best for me to get a bit of rest and that is why I went away. That will do me good in the coming weeks.
Rooney was in top form before unfortunately suffering the injury, having scored seven goals in all competitions during the start of 2016. In the meantime, United have progressed to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, while also advancing to the round of 16 of the Europa League.
