Manchester United's Wayne Rooney is unlikely to be
fit for the start of the season after contracting a virus on the
pre-season trip to Nigeria.
United played four friendlies, including one against
Community Shield opponents Portsmouth, on the tour but it now looks
to have cost them the services of their leading striker.
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports News: "I doubt we'll
get Rooney fit for the start of the season with the virus he's
had.
"It's a virus he picked up in Nigeria and it's not a nice one,
but quite a few have had it.
"It's such a bad virus and he's got to be training to be
fit."
Ferguson confirmed that Rooney was not suffering from malaria,
against which the entire squad had been treated before the
trip.
The news could bring a renewed move for Tottenham forward
Dimitar Berbatov as Ferguson has only Carlos Tevez, untested
youngster Fraizer Campbell and Louis Saha to choose from up
front.
In addition to the seasonal curtain-raiser against Pompey on
August 10, the 22-year-old England international is also likely to
miss United's Premier League opener against Newcastle the following
week.
It is deeply frustrating for Rooney, who also saw the start to
last season disrupted by injury when he suffered a broken
metatarsal against Reading on the opening day of the 2007/08
campaign.
The news will come as a major blow to United, who will also
begin the defence of their title without injured winger Cristiano
Ronaldo.
Ronaldo underwent ankle surgery earlier this summer and is not
expected to return to action until October.
Ferguson continued: "I don't know whether we will have a team
ready. Nani is suspended, Anderson is in the Olympic Games.
"(Michael) Carrick's come in this morning and he may play a part
of the game on Sunday.
"They've said it's a bad virus and Wayne's not back in yet, he's
not been training. It's been a long time."