Reds will cope without Wayne

EDWIN van der Sar insists Manchester United can cope without Wayne Rooney.

United face an anxious wait to discover the extent of the ankle injury the striker suffered in the final minute of last night's 2–1 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich.

Rooney left the Allianz Arena on crutches, with a protective boot on his left foot.

Early indications are that Rooney has suffered a sprain, which United manager Sir Alex Ferguson claimed was "not too serious".

Yet even in the best–case scenario, it seems highly improbable Rooney will be fit for Saturday's Barclays Premier League showdown with Chelsea at Old Trafford, or the return against Bayern four days later which must be won following Ivica Olic's injury–time winner.

Yet Van der Sar, whose man–of–the–match display ensured United do still have hope of reaching the Champions League semi–finals after a poor performance, insists the Reds can manage without their star striker.

He said: "You always want your best players available, but we know the players coming in can also do a good job."

In the short term, Ferguson is expected to use Dimitar Berbatov at the head of his strike force, as he did at Bolton on Saturday.


MANCHESTER City, whose manager Roberto Mancini is on a contract until the end of the season, will be among the favourites to snap up Jose Mourinho should the Portuguese boss of Inter Milan return, as he hopes, to the Premier League next season.