Chelsea vs Manchester United: Wayne Rooney set to miss match after suffering injury in training

Rooney suffered a muscle tweak in training and did not travel with the squad to London

(Getty)

Wayne Rooney looks set to miss Manchester United’s trip to Stamford Bridge to take on Jose Mourinho’s former side Chelsea after he did not travel with the rest of the squad to London on Saturday.

United face Chelsea with the chance to capitalise on both Arsenal and Tottenham failing to win this weekend, but the focus will be firmly on Mourinho’s return to the club that unceremoniously sacked him last season just seven months after he won the title.

Mourinho’s United side have been hit and miss so far this season, with a strong start being followed up by three straight defeats. Over the last week, United secured a draw at Liverpool as they set out to frustrate Jurgen Klopp’s side with a defensive-minded approach, but turned on the style on Thursday to dispatch Fenerbahce 4-1 in the Europa League.

Rooney started that game at Old Trafford, having fallen out of Mourinho’s Premier League starting XI due to his poor form this term. However, he looks set to be missing altogether when United face Chelsea this afternoon after the rest of the squad travelled south from Manchester without him.

The Daily Mail reports that Rooney suffered a muscle tweak in training ahead of the game, and as such will not be able to take part in the crunch encounter. Mourinho was unlikely to start Rooney – who turns 31 on Monday – but the absence of the captain in the dressing room will still be a blow for United.

Mourinho decided to deploy Rooney as a striker on Thursday, having already played him as a No 10 and midfielder this season as well as pushing him out to the wing. The England captain was unable to get on the scoresheet against the Turkish side despite United winning two penalties, with Rooney electing to give the first to Paul Pogba and second to Anthony Martial. While some praised his decision to try and help boost the confidence of his teammates, others suggested that a “hungry” Rooney of 10 years ago would not have let anyone else take the spot kicks other than himself.

Mourinho is expected to stick with Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the lead striker, with the Swede starting every Premier League game this season since completing a free transfer to Old Trafford in the summer. He does have a selection dilemma on his hands though with who supports Ibrahimovic out wide. The Portuguese elected to hand Ashley Young his first start since January in the 0-0 draw with Liverpool, and if he has decided to try and prevent Chelsea’s attack from enjoying any success down the right flank, then the England winger could retain his place in the squad.

Marcus Rashford started on the right of the attacking trio, but he was well below par at Anfield and with Jesse Lingard enjoying an impressive display in midweek, he could replace his England teammate for today’s encounter. Mourinho also has a decision to make over his midfield trio, with Pogba excelling in a more advanced role on Thursday that allowed Michael Carrick to come into the side and control the play from the heart of midfield.