Rooney May Miss Games

David Moyes has said that Wayne Rooney’s groin injury could force the striker out of action despite his full 90 minutes in the defeat to Tottenham on New Year’s Day.

Rooney’s participation had been in some doubt ahead of the Reds’ first game of 2014, following his absence from the win over Norwich on 28 December. The manager had said Rooney would be assessed in the hours leading up to kick against Spurs, but the 28-year-old made the starting line-up and also completed the entire match at Old Trafford.

With United back in action on Sunday when Swansea City visit for the third round of the FA Cup, and with just over 48 hours after that to the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final at Sunderland, the manager admits he will need to manage Rooney’s injury situation and the needs of the team carefully.

“The plan was to play Wayne for 90 minutes, but he has a bit of a groin injury,” said Moyes. “The longer it went on, we had to try to get more attacking players on the pitch to try and find more ways to score. If I could (rest Rooney) I would, but the games are coming thick and fast. He has missed a game with his groin and he may well miss some more coming up.”

Robin van Persie was absent for the Spurs game due to a thigh problem that has kept him out of action for three weeks, and when asked whether the Dutch international would be available for next Sunday, Moyes responded: “I’m not sure yet.”