A boozy night out on the tiles, as opposed to a series of niggling injuries, may be the real reason Wayne Rooney didn’t feature for Manchester United against Blackburn yesterday.
While United struggled badly and fell to a shock 3-2 defeat to Blackburn at Old Trafford, Rooney looked on from an executive box in the stands, where he was accompanied by Irish international Darron Gibson, who supposedly joined Rooney for a few bevvies after United trashed Wigan 5-0 on St. Stephen’s Day.
Widespread reports are suggesting that Rooney and Gibson were ordered to train on Wednesday (their day off) and then informed that they would not be involved against Blackburn on Sir Alex Ferguson’s 70th birthday.
Jonny Evans is also said to have accompanied Rooney and Gibson on the night out, but he is currently sidelined through injury and was subsequently spared the punishment meted out to his accomplices as Sir Alex Ferguson shows no signs of mellowing in his old age.
Prior to the game against Blackburn, Ferguson explained Rooney’s absence, saying: “Wayne hasn’t trained well this week, he’s missed a few days and we’re hoping that he trains today, tomorrow and, by Wednesday, he should be okay. It’s little strains here and there.”
Without Rooney and Gibson, United were left desperately short of resources, with Rafael Da Silva forced into a central midfield role, Michael Carrick and Antonio Valencia playing in the back four and a series of untested youngsters occupying the bench.
The fact that Fergie was prepared to stand by his punishment despite United’s lengthy injury list would suggest that he was determined to prove his point, although Rooney is expected to retain his place for the clash with Newcastle during the week.
As for Gibson, his United career was already hanging by a thread prior to the incident, and if they weren’t already, his days at Old Trafford look seriously numbered.
