Rooney absence continues with rehab in United States

Rather than use the state-of-the-art facilities at United's Carrington training base, the club have opted to send Rooney to Nike's centre in Portland, Oregon, where he will do fitness and conditioning work.

United also confirmed that the trip would help Rooney escape the unwanted attention he has received since claiming to be unhappy at the club.

"What we are intending to do with Wayne is send him to Nike Town in the USA for a week's conditioning training,'' confirmed United assistant manager Mike Phelan.

"We have decided, with Wayne, the medical team and the coaching staff that it would be the best thing for him.

"He is going on Saturday and will return the following Saturday. It is a week's intensive conditioning, under the supervision of our medical team and our sports' science department.''

Rooney's excursion means he is definitely out of contention for the Manchester derby on Wednesday and will also miss United's trip to Villa Park next weekend.

Ferguson suggested last week that Rooney could be sidelined until December but Phelan did raise the possibility that Rooney could be back for the home encounter with Wigan on November 21.

But there is little doubt United believe the chance of working away from the glare of publicity will aid Rooney's recovery programme.

"We have the facilities,'' he conceded. "We just thought it might be in the interests of him and the club to have a change of scenery for a little while.

"He has had a lot of attention lately and we want to give him the best opportunity that he possibly can to be in good shape when he returns.

"He needs the conditioning. We all agree with that. He can go there without the attention he would get around here. "If that goes according to plan, he will be available when he returns.''

Alex Ferguson was absent from Friday's press conference after falling ill with the same virus that prevented four members of his squad travelling to Turkey for the Champions League win over Bursaspor.

The virus is serious enough to keep Darron Gibson out of Saturday's Premier League encounter with Wolves, but Phelan confirmed that Ferguson would be at the game.

"The manager has been ill since coming back from Turkey,'' said Phelan. "It is related to the virus that has been going around. It is one of those things that gets hold of you and is hard to shake off but he will be at the game tomorrow.''

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