Rooney pleads for UEFA leniency

WAYNE ROONEY will travel to Switzerland this week hopeful of having his three-match England ban reduced.

The 26-year-old Manchester United striker will attend a UEFA appeal hearing along with national boss Fabio Capello on Thursday as he seeks a lesser punishment for his sending-off in the 2-2 Euro qualifier in Montenegro last October.

Rooney, who will travel to the hearing after United’s Champions League game in Basel on Wednesday, was dismissed for kicking out at Miodrag Dzudovic, whose evidence will also be presented as part of his case.