Rooney could miss 'weeks'

Sir Alex Ferguson: Wayne Rooney could miss 'weeks' - ESPN Soccernet

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that Wayne Rooney could miss "a few weeks" of Manchester United's season.

United served up a surprise at Stoke on Saturday, as they arrived at the Britannia Stadium without their star man. Ferguson told ESPN after the 1-1 draw that the club had endured a "nightmare" training session on Friday. And it appears Rooney was one of the casualties with a hamstring injury.

"Rooney's is not a serious injury, but it was enough to keep him out today, and I think maybe for a few weeks," Ferguson said.

United lost Jonny Evans in the warm-up, while Javier Hernandez lasted less than 10 minutes before limping off.

More on these injuries as we find out the details.

Community Shield Notes

Interesting to see Chelsea line up with Ivanovic starting at right back with no apparent injury to Bosignwa. Combine that with Bayern Munich's pursuit of Bosingwa over the summer (that was never really shouted down by anyone at Chelsea) and we might have a bargain defender in the making.

Zhirkov doesn't even make the bench as he recovers from a knee injury. It is unclear whether he will recover in time for the start of the season not and even if he does, whether he will start ahead of Malouda.

Another curious selection on the other side of the ball is Nani getting the start over Valencia with no injury reported. (and Nani just scored as if to underscore his spot in the line-up - and he made the goal himself - definitely food for thought) It also appears that Darren Fletcher will be taking Paul Scholes' old spot with Park getting the nod on the left.

At the back, O'Shea is subbing for GNev/Rafael as they are both injured and Evans is subbing in for Vidic. Foster received the call in net over Kuszczak which (I assume) makes him the presumptive favorite for Week 1 but of course we'll disect every statement from Fergie this week to ensure you have the latest and greatest news.

Black Cats Land Halford

Barclays Premiership newcomers Sunderland have made their first summer signing with the capture of Reading defender Greg Halford.



It is understood the 22-year-old full-back has signed for the Black Cats after undergoing a medical.



The club are expected to confirm the transfer, which comes just five months after the Chelmsford-born player joined the Royals from Colchester, later on Monday.

Halford was a January buy for Steve Coppell, but he could never displace either Murty or De La Cruz in the starting XI. Big things were promised, but Coppell seemed to be bringing him along slowly. I'm surprised that Reading would sell him as Murty isn't getting younger. But perhaps they see something in De La Cruz, or Sunderland came up with more money than they could turn down. Roy Keane needed a new right back after ManU defender Johhny Evans returned to the mother ship.

If Halford is as good as promised, and that is now a question after Reading sells him, then he could turn out to be value for money come next season.

UPDATE:  Here's the other piece to this puzzle: De La Cruz agrees new Royals deal