Fergie backs ‘fiery’ Rooney

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has refused to condemn Wayne Rooney for his latest red card.

Ferguson is expecting to see Manchester United's star striker today for the first time since Rooney was sent off for lashing out in Montenegro.

The incident has already led to a minimum one–match ban and a warning from Fabio Capello that the 25–year–old may not find it easy to win his place back at Euro 2012.

Ferguson said: "I have texted him but he has not got back to me.

“He will be disappointed. I haven't seen it at all but it sounds like it was one of these reflex actions by the boy. He has been tackled and he has reacted.

"He has this fiery temper which, to my mind, is not the worst thing in the world.

"He has shown tremendous improvement in his temperament and his reactions to tackles and things over the past few years.

"As maturity comes along it brings other things.

“It brings responsibility. He is improving all the time."

It has been suggested Rooney reacted due to the pressure he was under following his father's arrest on Friday, not that Ferguson was offering any opinion on that matter.

"I have no idea," he said.

"It is difficult to say with these things. I will see him tomorrow."