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Manchester United news: Wayne Rooney returns with 60-minute run-out for Under-21s against Middlesbrough

The England captain hopes to return for the full team in their crucial FA Cup quarter-final replay against West Ham on Wednesday

Monday 11 April 2016 20:47 BST

Wayne Rooney, left, successfully came through 60 minutes of action for the U21 side on his return from injury (Reuters)

Wayne Rooney thrust himself into contention for Manchester United’s crucial FA Cup quarter-final replay against West Ham on Wednesday by ending his two-month injury absence with a 61 minute display for the club’s Under-21 team at Old Trafford.

The England captain, sidelined since damaging medial ligaments during the 2-1 defeat at Sunderland on February 13, returned to full training at United’s Carrington training base last Thursday.

And with Louis van Gaal keen for the Rooney to prove his fitness on the pitch before selecting his squad for the trip to Upton Park, the 30-year-old emerged unscathed from his run-out against Middlesbrough in front of the watching United manager, who was also joined by assistant Ryan Giggs in the directors’ box.

During his absence, Rooney has missed 12 games for United and England’s recent friendlies against Germany and Holland, prompting Roy Hodgson to admit that he will face a battle with Tottenham forward Harry Kane for a place in the team at Euro 2016.

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

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1/11England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Tom Heaton - goalkeeper - 0 caps

The Burnley goalkeeper has emerged as third choice goalkeeper now Jack Butland is out of the reckoning. It's incredibly unlikely he'll be called upon in France - however if England were needing to look to their third choice wouldn't a stopper who has featured for England before and been playing in the Premier League be a better choice? Ben Foster fits that bill.

2016 Getty Images

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Luke Shaw - left-back - 6 caps

The £30m signing is set to return to action following his broken leg just before the season is over. But the possibility of a relapse and lack of game time make the Manchester United player too big a risk.

2016 Manchester United FC

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Phil Jones - centre-back - 20 caps

With 20 caps for England, Jones has long been considered among the regular contenders. However he's been edged out at Manchester United and deserves to be edged out from the England set-up too.

Getty

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Calum Chambers - centre-back - 3 caps

After joining Arsenal it seemed as though Chambers might turn out to be the next Tony Adams and in late 2014 he collected his three England caps - without conceding a single goal in any of them. However, he's failed to make much progress at the Emirates since then and is out of the picture for this summer's tournament.

2016 Getty Images

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Glen Johnson - right-back - 54 caps

At the last major tournament - the 2014 World Cup - Johnson was a certain starter at right-back. But much has changed since then - including the emergence of Kyle Walker and Nathaniel Clyne as alternative options, plus his own move from Liverpool to Stoke. Still only 31-years-old, Johnson has been consistent at the Britannia, but has failed to catch the eye as much as his rivals.

2016 Getty Images

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Andros Townsend - left midfield - 10 caps

A screamer against Montenegro helped England qualify for the World Cup and his performance in the following crucial game against Poland made him a firm favourite of Hodgson's. Another wonderful goal is among the three he has scored in his 10 caps for England. But while impressing for the Three Lions, nagging doubts about his ability saw his former club Spurs willing to sell him to Newcastle.

2016 Getty Images

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Jack Wilshere - central midfield - 28 caps

Hodgson's positive view of the Arsenal midfielder is well known - and Wilshere's ability isn't in doubt. But neither is his injury record. He hasn't played a single minute of competitive football since scoring a brace for England in June last year and the idea of him waltzing into a side filled with alternate midfield options doesn't sit right.

2015 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Michael Carrick - central midfield - 34 caps

In a parallel universe, Carrick has over 100 caps and is considered one of the great England midfielders. But in this one, despite his ability and versatility, he has just 34 because something about the Manchester United player doesn't scream 'pick me'. Right now, that shout is coming louder from Eric Dier and Danny Drinkwater who both performed well in the latest set of friendlies.

2016 Manchester United FC

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - right midfield - 24 caps

In the World Cup squad two years ago, Oxlade-Chamberlain has simply failed to progress as much as was expected. A single goal in the Premier League this season says much. With 24 caps and still only 22-years-old, his England career isn't over but there are simply better options this summer.

2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Theo Walcott - forward - 42 caps

In the latest set of friendlies Walcott was among the five forwards selected by Hodgson - but he looks the weakest of the bunch. And with Wayne Rooney certain to come back in when fit again, the Arsenal man will rightly be chopped. Despite an exciting start to the season, the old concerns about the 27-year-old - picking the wrong pass, panicking when in on goal, hiding for long periods - all remain.

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Andy Carroll - forward - 9 caps

Hodgson has always liked to have a 'big man' option. At Euro 2012 that was Carroll and at the 2014 World Cup it was Rickie Lambert. Unfortunately for Carroll, his consistently dodgy fitness has denied him a lengthy run in the West Ham side this season and Hodgson now has a big man in the shape of Harry Kane with much more to his game than acting as a long-ball target.

2016 Getty Images

Hodgson is set to name his 23-man squad for France on May 12 and although Rooney’s place in the travelling party is not in doubt, the United captain had been in danger of running out of time to regain full match fitness prior to the squad being announced.

Rooney has a maximum of seven games to banish fitness doubts prior to May 12, but that figure depends on him playing against West Ham on Wednesday and United progressing to a semi-final against Everton at Wembley on April 23.

With presence in the team boosting the attendance at Old Trafford to 6,132, Rooney enjoyed an uneventful return, twice threatening to score in the first-half with long range efforts.

Rooney also sent a second-half free-kick narrowly over the crossbar from 25 yards as United attempted to break the deadlock in a tight game

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