Rooney fights the law and for fitness

WAYNE ROONEY faces a nervous wait to see if he will be fit to face Chelsea in the Champions League tonight with the growing storm over his foul language further fanned by his decision to appeal against a two-match ban handed to him by the Football Association.

Rooney has admitted a charge of using foul, offensive language for swearing into a camera after scoring the final goal of a hat-trick against West Ham last weekend; but in a desperate bid to play in the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City on April 16 he has asked for the punishment to be reduced.

The England striker’s submission will be heard by an FA disciplinary commission today and he faces the risk of having his ban increased to three matches if his appeal is deemed to be frivolous, ruling him out of a league game at Newcastle United as well as the FA Cup tie and a home league game against Fulham.