Phelan: Players Must Deliver Without Rooney

Manchester United's players have been told they have to start delivering goals in the absence of star striker Wayne Rooney.

The 34-goal forward has missed the defending champions' last two Premier League games due to an ankle injury sustained in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final defeat by Bayern Munich and aggravated in the second.

The England has only been able to watch on from the sidelines as Sir Alex Ferguson's side surrendered the Premier League summit after a 2-1 home defeat by Chelsea before handing the Blues the initiative with a 0-0 draw at Blackburn.

Carlo Ancelotti's side now have a one-point lead with a game in hand, which comes on Tuesday when they host Bolton, and they could be four points clear by the time United tackle City in the Manchester derby on Saturday lunchtime.

Rooney will hope to be back in action for the crucial Eastlands showdown, but assistant manager Mike Phelan has called on his team-mates to prove their worth in his absence.

"We can't rely on that situation (Rooney)," Phelan said.

"Wayne Rooney is having an exceptional season. We can't get away from that.

"But this is Manchester United. We have a lot of other quality players in the squad.

"At times you are going to miss people. When that happens, others have to come to the front and show the calibre that brought them to the club in the first place."

Despite Chelsea now being odds on favourites to prevent United claiming a fourth successive top-flight crown, Phelan is refusing to throw in the towel.

"It has not been the greatest couple of weeks," Ferguson's right-hand man added.

"The last three games have not gone the way that we wanted but you have to take these things on board and you have to carry on.

"The title is not in our hands now, which is disappointing because you always want control of situations. We have not got that.

"But it is not over yet. There are a lot of big games to be played. It is a funny season and hopefully we will still be in it at the end."