Rooney ready for opener

Wayne Rooney has been passed fit to play in Manchester United’s Barclays Premiership opener against Fulham on Sunday.

The England striker, who will miss the Red Devils’ next three games through suspension, had been doubtful for the Cottagers clash with a groin injury but Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed he has recovered and should start up front alongside Louis Saha.

Gabriel Heinze and Nemanja Vidic are both ruled out with knee injuries, £18.6m (€27.3m) new signing Michael Carrick is still a week away from a return to training after suffering an ankle ligament damage earlier this month, while Alan Smith is continuing his recovery from a horror double leg break against Liverpool last season.

Team (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Neville, O’Shea, Brown, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Ronaldo, Park Ji-Sung, Scholes, Giggs, Saha, Rooney, Rossi, Evans, Evra, Richardson, Fletcher.