Manchester United got off to a worst possible Premier League start with its star striker Wayne Rooney injuring his left foot, something bound to keep the mercurial forward out of action for quite a while.
Man U’s match against Reading was into 45th minute when rival defender Michael Duberry trod on Rooney to leave what was later reported as a hairline fracture.
And it’s not only Man U which would be hit hard by Rooney’s injury. It also casts a cloud of doubt over Rooney’s availability for England’s Euro 2008 qualifiers. Rooney is certain to miss action when England locks horn with Germany on August 22 but would hope to be back in shape before the September 8.
Rooney’s injury also takes some sting off the Man U attack, which does have two options in Louis Saha and new recruit Carlos Tevez but both of them are short on match practice.
Man U manager Sir Alex Ferguson said
It was a painful blow and Wayne could not really stand on his foot. I do not think it is as serious an injury as when he broke his metatarsal.
But his foot did start to swell and it was not worth starting him in the second half.
In short, Rooney may have hurt his foot but it’s Man U which is feeling the pain.
