• Europa League

Ill Rooney out of United's clash with Ajax

ESPN staff
February 22, 2012
Sir Alex Ferguson addresses the media © PA Photos
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Wayne Rooney will sit out Manchester United's Europa League clash with Ajax on Thursday on account of illness.

United carry a 2-0 lead into the second leg of their clash with the Dutch outfit and with a Premier League trip to Norwich in mind, Rooney will be given the evening off after being struck down by illness.

"Rooney's out for tomorrow," Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said. "He has a bad throat. There were traces of it in Amsterdam last Thursday and he's been in bed for a lot of the weekend."

Ferguson confirmed Tom Cleverley will continue his comeback with a start against Ajax, having played for an hour the previous week.

"Last week an hour was fantastic for him after that long spell out," Ferguson said. "Hopefully he'll play a full game tomorrow.

"He's back and it's good to have him back. He gives us more ammunition in the midfield area, which was an area some people were worried about. Anderson's back training with the first team now as well."

Cleverley said: "It's good to be back. It's massively frustrating to be out for that length of time but I'm back now. I'm fresh, I'm 100% and looking forward to the end of the season."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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