Rooney absent for United

Wayne Rooney was missing from Manchester United’s squad for this evening’s Champions League Group C clash with Benfica at Old Trafford.

Rooney, who suffered what manager Alex Ferguson yesterday described as a “couple of knocks” in the Barclays Premier League victory at Swansea on Saturday, was replaced up front by Dimitar Berbatov in one of five changes to the United XI.

Ashley Young, Darren Fletcher, Antonio Valencia and Fabio also came into the team, with Javier Hernandez, Ryan Giggs and Park Ji-sung dropping to the bench and Nemanja Vidic ruled out through suspension.

Man Utd: De Gea, Fabio Da Silva, Jones, Ferdinand, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Fletcher, Nani, Young, Berbatov.

Subs: Lindegaard, Giggs, Smalling, Park, Hernandez, Rafael Da Silva, Gibson.

Benfica: Artur Moraes, Maxi Pereira, Luisao, Garay, Emerson, Witsel, Javi Garcia, Bruno Cesar, Aimar, Rodrigo Moreno, Gaitan.

Subs: Eduardo, Amorim, Cardozo, Nolito, Nelson Oliveira, Matic, Miguel Vitor.

Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey)