Coming off the last minute Champions League disappointment in Munich, Manchester United head coach Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that England International Wayne Rooney will miss the 2nd leg tie at Old Trafford, but should be available in time for the Manchester Derby.

Via Guardian

Rooney limped off in pain at the end of United’s 2-1 defeat in the Allianz Arena on Tuesday, provoking fears that his involvement in his club’s run-in and England’s World Cup campaign could be curtailed. But his club manager is now confident of a relatively quick return.

Ferguson said: “[There is] no bone damage or serious ligament damage. The nation can stop praying.

“It was panic,” he continued. “We are relieved. When we saw him hobble off, you are hoping when you send him for a scan, you get some good news. And it could have been worse given the way he hobbled off.

“But it’s out of the way, we can put it to one side and get on with our job on the pitch.”

Rooney’s participation in the World Cup will not now be threatened, which will come as an immense relief to the manager Fabio Capello.

United, however, will suffer, starting tomorrow against Chelsea and continuing to Wednesday’s Old Trafford return with Bayern Munich, matches that could shape their season.

Yet Ferguson knows his 34-goal forward will be back at some point this month, which is all he could have hoped for when he saw Rooney strip his right boot off as Bayern celebrated their stoppage-time winner in the Allianz Arena this week.

“We are relieved,” admitted the Scot. “When we saw him hobbling off and then sent him for a scan you are hoping to get some good news out of it – and we have. It could have been worse.”

The loss of Rooney clearly causes Ferguson a problem. Yet in sticking with a single striker, a formation in which Berbatov has no role, Ferguson has given himself an instant replacement.

The Bulgarian cannot be expected to match Rooney’s workrate – few in the United squad could – but the club spent a club record £30.75m on him for a reason and Ferguson does not expect the former Tottenham Hotspur striker to let him down.

“I haven’t liked leaving Dimitar out – and now he is in,” said the United manager. “Having one striker has been quite successful for us away from home in Europe in particular. It suited the pattern of our game away from home.

“But it is not easy leaving out a good player like that because he can make something happen in the last third. We just have to decide the best formation.”