Manchester United manager David Moyes said on Thursday that he will assess Wayne Rooney`s fitness before deciding whether to field the unsettled striker in the club`s opening Premier League game.
|Last Updated: Aug 15, 2013, 07:01 PM IST|Source: Bureau
London: Manchester United manager David Moyes said on Thursday that he will assess Wayne Rooney`s fitness before deciding whether to field the unsettled striker in the club`s opening Premier League game.
Moyes will take charge of United in a league game for the first time on Saturday when the defending champions visit Swansea City, after a pre-season dominated by speculation about Rooney`s future.
The 27-year-old has been the subject of two failed bids from Chelsea and missed the entirety of United`s pre-season campaign due to hamstring and shoulder injuries.
He played 66 minutes for England against Scotland in Wednesday`s friendly at Wembley, but while Moyes remains adamant the former Everton player will not be sold, he is still to decide if he will feature at the Liberty Stadium.
"(There are) no more developments. We don`t want any more because we`ve told everybody he`s not for sale," Moyes told Sky Sports News.
"I think I need to see how he is when we get back. When I get back I will try and assess him. I watched the game last night (Wednesday). I thought for the 65 minutes he played he did well, ran around and got himself some fitness, but it was his first real outing in a competitive game."
United`s captain Nemanja Vidic says he is not concerned by the speculation surrounding Rooney`s future or his current lack of match fitness.
"I think he has trained very well," Vidic said. "He had a few small injuries in the last few weeks but he has trained very well. He didn`t have as many games but the season is long and I think he will deal with it.
"To be fair, I am not worried as much (about his future). Wayne is training well, the club is strong and know what they are doing. I have trust in the manager."
Moyes`s efforts to improve his squad have been frustrated thus far, with unheralded Uruguayan full-back Guillermo Varela the only player to have arrived during the close season, but the Scot says he hopes to bring in more players before the transfer window closes on September 2.
"I`m confident we will have players in," he said.
"We`re involved in several players we are looking at and that will continue. Will we get them before the deadline? I hope so. We`re working very hard to do so."
AFP
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