Rooney earmarked for Utd bow
Sir Alex Ferguson has pencilled in October 3 for Wayne Rooney´s Manchester United debut.
Rooney, who signed for United from Everton just before the transfer deadline, is still recovering from the foot injury he sustained for England at Euro 2004.
He has now stepped up his training ahead of his comeback and will receive an update on his injury when he visits a specialist on Thursday.
Red Devils boss Ferguson is expecting a positive bulletin regarding the teenage striker´s condition and has already earmarked him for his United bow against Middlesbrough on October 3.
Ferguson feels that, once Rooney and other injured members of his squad are all available again, United can make up ground on Premiership leaders Arsenal and Chelsea.
" Wayne sees the specialist on Thursday and I think he will be ready for the Middlesbrough match," said Ferguson.
" Gary Neville could also be ready and Louis Saha won´t be far away, too.
" If you examine our situation in depth you will quickly realise there is no call for panic.
" Of course it´s a huge setback to fall behind so early in The Premiership. It´s the last thing I wanted but I also know you have not seen the full power of a reorganised United yet."
Meanwhile, United captain Roy Keane has hailed the talent of Rooney, placing him in a category of players he would pay to watch.
Keane feels that only Rooney and Paul Gascoigne, in addition to Ryan Giggs, have emerged as genuinely gifted British performers over the past 15 years.
" Gazza´s one of two players from the last 10 or 15 years I would have paid to watch," Keane told United We Stand. " One of two who really excited me.
" Rooney is the other one. I watched him against Bolton a while ago and he hit the post about six times and destroyed them.
" Maybe a young Giggsy too. Maybe I would have paid to watch him."