• Champions League

Rooney and Van Persie rested for Turkey trip

ESPN staff
November 19, 2012
Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie will not travel to Turkey © PA Photos
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Sir Alex Ferguson has opted to leave most of his senior players including Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie behind for Manchester United's trip to Galatasaray.

Rooney had recovered from a bout of tonsillitis that ruled him out of Saturday's defeat to Norwich, but Ferguson has opted to leave his first-choice strike pairing at home.

United have already secured top spot in Group H with four victories from four games and travel to Turkey without big names including Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and David De Gea, who are all rested.

Their 21-strong squad includes seven players who have yet to taste action in Europe's elite club competition, among them midfielders Nick Powell and Ryan Tunnicliffe, defender Marnick Vermijl and striker Joshua King.

Manchester United squad: Sam Johnstone, Anders Lindegaard; Rafael, Alexander Buttner, Phil Jones, Tom Thorpe, Marnick Vermijl, Scott Wootton; Michael Carrick, Davide Petrucci, Larnell Cole, Tom Cleverley, Darren Fletcher, Anderson, Nick Powell, Ashley Young, Ryan Tunnicliffe; Javier Hernandez, Joshua King, Danny Welbeck, Federico Macheda

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