Manchester United manager, Alex Ferguson, said on Friday that one of his star players, Wayne Rooney, could be out longer than the predicted three weeks.

Rooney, who recently singed another five-year deal with the club after speculation that he would be leaving over a disagreement with Ferguson, is currently resting his ankle in the hope of getting back on the pitch sooner rather than later.

Rooney received his injury in training last week and is said to be upset with it.

Ferguson said on Friday that he feels Rooney "may be out longer."

Ferguson added: “There is no recovery, it is just rest. Before he went away we did his remedial in terms of what we could do at the time."