Wayne Rooney has been sent to the United States for a week’s conditioning work to ensure he’s fit for a first-team comeback.

Manager Alex Ferguson has said that he does not expect Rooney to be back on the pitch for another three weeks. He is currently sidelined due to an ankle injury.

He will be using Nike’s center in Oregon instead of Manchester United’s Carrington training base. This is in a bid to get Rooney away from constant headlines which have dogged him for the last three weeks.

Manchesster United assistant-manager, Mike Phelan said “What we are intending to do with Wayne is send him to Nike Town in the USA for a week’s conditioning training.

“We have decided, with Wayne, the medical team and the coaching staff that it would be the best thing for him.

“He is going on Saturday and will return the following Saturday. It is a week’s intensive conditioning, under the supervision of our medical team and our sports’ science department.”