Rooney a doubt for season opener

Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney is unlikely to be fit for the start of the season after contracting a virus on the club’s pre-season trip to Nigeria.

United played four friendlies, including one against Community Shield opponents Portsmouth, on the tour but it now looks to have cost them the services of their leading striker.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports News: “I doubt we’ll get Rooney fit for the start of the season with the virus he’s had.

“It’s a virus he picked up in Nigeria and it’s not a nice one, but quite a few have had it.

“It’s such a bad virus and he’s got to be training to be fit.”

Ferguson confirmed that Rooney was not suffering from malaria, against which the entire squad had been treated before the trip.

The news could bring a renewed move for Tottenham forward Dimitar Berbatov as Ferguson has only Carlos Tevez, untested youngster Fraizer Campbell and Louis Saha to choose from up front.