Who's the daddy: Wayne Rooney (right) collects the
ball ahead of Keith Andrews during United's 2-0 win over
Blackburn
Wayne Rooney was excused from
Manchester
United training this morning to be by
wife Coleen's side as she delivered their first son.
The child, named Kai Wayne Rooney, was born nine days overdue at
Liverpool's Women's Hospital. The timing of the birth means that
24-year-old is likely to be involved in United's Champions League
match against CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford tomorrow night.
Rooney would probably have been left out if the the birth was
overnight, but the fact that strike-partner Dimitar Berbatov is
struggling with a knee injury means boss Sir Alex Ferguson may be
reluctant to do without the England international.
It is understood that the couple had been at the Merseyside
hospital since 10pm on Sunday night and the Kai was delivered at
1.45pm today.
Speaking before confirmation of the birth, Ferguson said: 'It
depends on the situation with his wife. She is pregnant and in
hospital at the moment so we just have to wait on that one.'
Rooney was not the only big name missing from training this
morning. They have a 100 per cent record from their opening three
matches in Group B and require just one more win to qualify for the
knockout phase.
United will definitely be without Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja
Vidic, who missed Saturday's victory over Blackburn with ankle
problems, while Ryan Giggs and Ji-sung Park have also been
excluded.
Berbatov also missed training. Park was able to train after a
recent absence with fluid on his knee and may be in contentions to
face Chelsea looming at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Darren Fletcher has recovered from a foot injury and is in line
to start against CSKA. Ferguson said: 'Darren was a substitute on
Saturday and will play on Tuesday. 'I think most people recognise
Fletcher as a big game player. We’ve been aware of that for quite a
while. Now there’s an acceptance among most people that he’s a very
important player for us.
He's Scot to start: Fletcher (left) will play
against CSKA after training alongside Owen
'He has been missed in some key games recently so it
will be good to have him back.' As for the problems at centre half,
Ferguson put faith in his stand-ins.
'A lot has been made about Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic being
out, but when you have the backup of Jonny Evans and Wes Brown, it
can't be bad,' said the Scot.
'If you take Ferdinand and Vidic out then there aren't many
partnerships in the Premier League better than Brown and
Evans.'
Team (from): Van der
Sar, Foster, Kuszczak, Rafael, O'Shea, Neville, De Laet, Brown,
Evans, Evra, Fabio, Nani, Valencia, Gibson, Scholes, Anderson,
Fletcher, Carrick, Obertan, Rooney, Berbatov, Owen, Macheda.
