• Premier League

Rooney 'gutted' to be leaving Manchester United tour

ESPN staff
July 12, 2013
ESPN Press Pass: Rooney's future

Wayne Rooney has admitted he is "gutted" to have left Manchester United's pre-season tour after the England striker was forced to head home with a hamstring problem.

Rooney picked up the injury in training on Thursday and a statement from the club said the 27-year-old "should return home immediately for further assessment and rehabilitation".

Writing on his Facebook page, Rooney said: "Gutted to have picked up a niggling injury especially as training was going so well, heading back to Manchester to have it assessed fully but early indications are nothing to worry about."

But the news has been lapped up by Friday's papers and the conspiracy theorists as Rooney's future at Old Trafford still hangs in the balance.

The Sun has questioned whether Rooney really is injured, while the Daily Mail says the decision to send him home "casts fresh doubt over his future". The Daily Star goes as far as claiming the player "still wants out" and he "has his heart set on joining Chelsea".

Rooney is expected to be out for a month and could miss the Community Shield at Wembley, where United take on FA Cup winners Wigan on August 11.

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