Wayne Rooney 'will not sign new Manchester United deal'

Manchester United have been informed that Wayne Rooney will not sign a new contract with the club, according to reports from the Press Association.

The 24-year-old striker's current deal runs out in the summer of 2012 and it is understood negotiations over a new contract have broken down.

There has been speculation that Rooney will be sold in the January transfer window, with Real Madrid interested.

However, United's response was to label that claim as "nonsense".

Rooney's relationship with United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been under scrutiny in recent weeks.

The striker missed United's Premier League fixture at Everton last month after allegations about his private life and he was then left out of subsequent games by Ferguson, who claimed the England international had an ankle injury.

However, last Tuesday, after England's 0-0 draw against Montenegro in a Euro 2010 qualifier at Wembley, Rooney contradicted the Scot's statement and insisted he was fit and had not had any ankle problem.

On Saturday, Rooney, who has scored only one goal in five Premier League appearances for United this season, was left out of the starting line-up for the 2-2 draw with West Brom.

Man Utd's Wayne Rooney to miss three weeks with injury

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney will be out of action for up to three weeks because of an ankle injury.

The 24-year-old has endured a poor start to the season and was substituted in the second half of Sunday's 2-2 draw with Bolton after getting injured.

As well as not making United's trip to Valencia, Rooney will miss Saturday's league game at Sunderland and England's Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro.

Midfielder Paul Scholes is unavailable for 10 days with a calf problem.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson revealed the latest prognosis on Rooney ahead of their Champions League Group C match against a Valencia side currently top of La Liga.

The striker's absence against Montenegro on 12 October will be a blow to England boss Fabio Capello, considering the injuries to Frank Lampard, Theo Walcott, Jermain Defoe and Bobby Zamora.

However, it is further bad news for Rooney whose private life has come under close scrutiny in recent weeks and whose form has wobbled in the opening period of the Premier league campaign.

The former Everton forward has only scored once this season - from the penalty spot - compared with three in a week for Michael Owen and seven so far this season for top scorer Bulgarian Dimitar Berbatov.

Ferguson even admitted last week that the player was feeling the strain of being in the media spotlight after allegations about his private life.

Former England boss Kevin Keegan, working as a TV pundit for Sunday's match at the Reebok, said after the draw: "His performance at Bolton tells me his confidence is shot."

Rooney will join United team-mate Ryan Giggs on the sidelines with the Welshman ruled out for a fortnight after injuring a hamstring at the weekend.

The Old Trafford club opened their European campaign with a disappointing 0-0 draw against Rangers and on Wednesday face the Spanish club who began their Champions League quest with a 4-0 defeat of Turkish team Bursaspor.

From BBC Website

Manchester United held by Bolton

2-2 with Bolton 26th September

Manchester United failed to capitalise on a defeat for Premier League leaders Chelsea as a Michael Owen goal rescued a draw for them at resolute Bolton.
The home side went ahead when defender Zat Knight flicked in a corner only for Nani to end a powerful run with an angled strike to equalise.

Martin Petrov restored Bolton's lead when he cut inside and had a shot deflected in off Darren Fletcher. Substitute Owen then glanced in a Nani free-kick to earn a point for United.

The draw will have annoyed United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who had emphasised his side's need to close the gap at the top of the table to a single point following Chelsea's loss at Manchester City 24 hours earlier.

And with the Red Devils having registered 10 wins from the last 11 games against Bolton, the visitors might have been confident of victory.
However, as with so many of the underdogs over the weekend, Bolton upset their more illustrious opponents, while the defensive frailties which have undermined United's season so far were again exposed.

The visitors went behind early on when Knight beat United centre-back Jonny Evans to a corner and glanced in a shot. Bolton's work ethic in closing down and pressing United unsettled their north west opponents but the visitors still carried a threat on goal.
An unmarked Ryan Giggs shot straight at Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, who also dived low to his right to keep out a Fletcher strike. Bolton boss Owen Coyle is working on trying to create more of a passing side but the Trotters still have much of the physical presence of past years.

Powerful striker Kevin Davies is central to a more direct style and he produced a flick-on that Johan Elmander was close to diverting past keeper Edwin Van der Sar.

Bolton centre-back Sam Ricketts produced a surging run from defence and had a 22-yard shot saved before United winger Nani produced a similar solo burst on the home goal but, in contrast, finished with an angled shot from 18 yards.
The alert Knight had to clear a Nani cross with Wayne Rooney set for a tap in as the visitors slowly turned up the pressure on the Bolton defence.

Rooney, who was booed by the home fans on his first away appearance since allegations about his private life emerged, fizzed a 22-yard shot over as he tried to add to his one goal for United so far this season. Ferguson has been concerned at the impact of the media spotlight on a striker who cut a forlorn figure for the most part and his involvement ended on 61 minutes as he was replaced by Federico Macheda.

Macheda instantly played a one-two with the in-form Berbatov, who had a stinging shot blocked away by Jaaskelainen.

United's desire to get forward left them susceptible to the counter-attack and Bolton showed the ability to capitalise.
Petrov cut inside Park Ji-Sung and drove in a shot which was deflected past Van der Sar by Fletcher.

United centre-back Rio Ferdinand was not included in the visitor's squad for the match and watched from the stands as events almost got even better for Bolton.
The hard-working Elmander cleverly flicked the ball past Nemanja Vidic only to blaze a shot horribly over.

The miss was quickly punished as Owen glanced in a Nani free-kick as an absorbing game finished with the spoils shared and United still searching for their first away win in the league this season.

By Mandeep Sanghera – BBC Online

Kevin Keegan criticises Manchester United's Rooney lifestyle choicw

Former England manager Kevin Keegan says Wayne Rooney cannot blame press intrusion for his recent run of poor performances for Manchester United.

The 24-year-old, who has been at the centre of allegations about his private life, has scored one goal in six games for United so far this season.

And Keegan believes Rooney's lifestyle choices have not helped the striker.
"You can't then turn around and say there's too much paparazzi around or too much publicity," Keegan told ESPN.
"You can't have all the contracts, sell your wedding to magazines and things like this, and suddenly say, 'That's the tap I want to turn on but we want to turn the other one off'.

"It's just one tap and I know from when I played that if you are advertising boots and all these things, you have to go and make appearances. You are going to appear in the paper.
"But the one thing I would say is keep your home and your family out of it and just take your endorsements if that's what you want to do.
"One minute you are courting it, the next minute you're saying 'I don't want this'."
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said Rooney has been feeling the strain of the media's scrutiny and was again lacklustre in their 2-2 draw with Bolton at the Reebok Stadium on Sunday.

Rooney was replaced by Federico Macheda in the 61st minute, although the former Everton striker had an ice pack applied to his ankle soon after his substitution.
But assistant manager Mike Phelan said the striker should be fit for United's Champions League match against Valencia on Wednesday.

But Keegan disagreed with Ferguson's assertion that Rooney has not lost his confidence.

"His performance at Bolton tells me his confidence is shot," added Keegan.
"Last year, you'd fancy him to put some of these chances into the net. For United to get back to where they should be - and winning at places like Bolton - they need to be getting Wayne Rooney firing on all cylinders."

Berbatov steals Rooney Glory

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson claimed anything but a win would have been a travesty after seeing his side beat Liverpool 3-2.

Dimitar Berbatov completed a hat-trick six minutes from time to deny Liverpool after a Steven Gerrard double had hauled the visitors back from 2-0 down.

"From thinking to myself 'it's going to be 10', we ended up level at 2-2," said Ferguson after the Old Trafford clash.

"It was a travesty of a scoreline then but a great result at the end."

Liverpool levelled within 11 minutes of falling two goals behind but Ferguson felt the visitors were lucky to get a foothold back in the game.

"Liverpool didn't offer anything and depended on decisions from the linesman to get back in the game," he added.

"Edwin van der Sar had no saves to make, Paul Scholes controlled the midfield and we looked dangerous up front, with Dimitar and Nani - I couldn't see us losing the game."

Often derided as lacking passion - an Eric Cantona-lite - Berbatov has cast off the shackles to become the player Ferguson thought he was paying £30m for when he arrived from Tottenham.

And while Ferguson was fulsome in his praise of Berbatov, who became the first player to score a hat-trick for United against Liverpool in 64 years, he did concede that United had their own moment of good fortune when the Bulgarian scored with an overhead kick via the underside of the bar to make it 2-0.

"It was unexpected, a surprise attempt. Not many of those go in the net but fortunately it did this time," stated Ferguson.

"There was a lot of criticism of Berbatov last season from the media - it happens when we buy someone for a lot of money, that's the way of the world.

"But this season he has started off in the right fashion. He was good in pre-season and on tour and has carried it on. There has never been any doubt about the quality of the man."

Berbatov, who has now scored seven goals this season, enthused: "It was probably my best day in a United shirt.

"I am happy. I am going home with a smile on my face but I am nothing special. I am going home to play with my kids."

Rooney Plays Against Switzerland

Striker Wayne Rooney has arrived in Switzerland with the England squad for their Euro 2012 qualifier amid allegations about his private life.
Rooney has made the trip with the rest of the squad for Tuesday's Group C tie.
However, England coach Fabio Capello will have to decide if Rooney is in the right frame of mind to play.

The News of the World and the Sunday Mirror alleged Rooney had slept with a prostitute while his wife Coleen was pregnant with their son. The story dominates Monday's newspapers as well.

England 4-0 Bulgaria

Jermain Defoe struck a hat-trick as England started the road to recovery after the bitter disappointment of World Cup failure with victory against Bulgaria in their opening Euro 2012 qualifier at Wembley.

Rooney playing the ‘hole’ behind Defoe played a key role in each of the goals and although not scoring looked sharp and eager for the ball.

Manchester United forward Rooney played a decisive part in Defoe's second and third goal and Johnson's strike, with neat assists.
"I played Rooney in a position different than usual. He did very well. I spoke with him before the game," stated Capello.

"He had to stay just in front of the two central midfielders and from this position to go forward and to be free. The quality of Rooney was really high."

Rooney needs a goal

Wayne Rooney backed to end goal drought by Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson

A mere 144 days ago, Wayne Rooney was about to record his 19th goal in 14 games for Manchester United, sustaining a remarkable run of form which appeared destined to flow like a torrent through to the World Cup final, enabling Sir Alex Ferguson’s team to sweep all before them to a Premier League and Champions League double on the way.

Then came the Sliding Doors moment, the split-second that changed everything and hauled Rooney back from the brink of immortality. Had he allowed the covering Ryan Giggs to check the run of Mario Gomez deep into stoppage time against Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena, Rooney would not have mistimed his challenge on the German forward and he would have escaped the damage to his right ankle sustained after his attempted intervention.

Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Yet Rooney made the tackle, rolled his ankle, tweaked the tendons and he has not scored, or resembled his true self on a football pitch, since.

Rather than when will he stop scoring, the question now revolves around when Rooney will emerge from what has developed into the longest goalless run of his career.

As he prepares to face Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday, revised Opta figures show that Rooney’s current goal drought stands at 1,081 minutes — 79 minutes longer than his barren run during the 2005-06 campaign. Whichever way the figures are spun, they make grim reading for Rooney, United, England — 13 games, 1,081 minutes, 18 hours and one minute. Nothing since March 30.

Famously protective of his players, Ferguson will never hang one of his own out to dry by condemning their failings, but while the United manager insists that Rooney will come good once again, he concedes that the 24 year-old is as frustrated as any forward by his lengthening fruitless streak.

Ferguson said: “I say it time and time again; strikers live by their goals. When they are not scoring, they think it is never going to come. Then, when they [goals] come, they think they are never going to finish. That is normal with any forward.

“They are quite straightforward people and Wayne is no different from any other kind of striker. They want to score and, when they are not scoring, they think it is never going to happen.

“But Wayne is one of the best strikers in the world. He is still young, still progressing and still learning.”

The Best Penalty Ever

Wouldn't it be good if we could see our boy Wayne take a penalty like this.......

Wayne Rooney goals - Alex Ferguson's thoughts on Rooney

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson claims the weight of expectation on Wayne Rooney was to blame for his poor World Cup.

Rooney failed to score in four matches and looked a shadow of the player who shone for United last season.

"There was such expectation on him, talk he was going to be the player of the tournament," said Ferguson. "That was the prelude to the whole thing. You wait, in four years' time you'll see a different player."

Ferguson admitted he had been concerned by the hyperbole surrounding his striker at the start of the tournament.

"Rooney was going to be the star, he was going to outshine them all - Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo. So that level of expectation comes into it," he added. "And he's not got great experience of playing in the World Cup really."

The Scot revealed he was "baffled" by England's poor form in South Africa. Fabio Capello's team finished second in their group, behind the United States, and were then hammered 4-1 by Germany in the second round.

"That is going to be one of the imponderables - what has really happened and why are they [England] not getting better form," stated Ferguson.

"I watched their games and was baffled by what I saw. Expectation was a big thing. They qualified from a group which you'd have to say was a million to one they wouldn't qualify from. So it was an easy passage into the finals.

England's World Cup dream is over

"Maybe it would have been better if England had been in a tougher [qualifying] group. They'd have earned the right to be one of the favourites and it would have helped that they'd played good teams before they got there."

Ferguson said he had been particularly impressed with Germany and argued that their winning mentality and the Bundesliga's winter break had helped them through to the semi-finals.

"The history they've got [in Germany] is quite incredible," said Ferguson. "That organised mentality they have, the belief in themselves, it carries them a long way.

"The German mentality is 'we are always in the semi-finals'.

"Plus the fact they get a month's rest in January - it must help. All the England team are playing [in the Premier League] so they're all affected [by the lack of a winter break]."

However, Ferguson is tipping the Netherlands - who take on Uruguay in Tuesday's first semi-final - to win the World Cup.

He added: "I don't think they have played anywhere near their best form."

(Feed from BBC.co.uk)

England out of World Cup

England's World Cup ended in a mixture of humiliation and controversy as they were thrashed by Germany in Bloemfontein. 

Germany's deserved win and convincing victory margin will be overshadowed forever in the minds of Fabio Capello and his squad by a moment they believe robbed them of the hope of reaching the last eight.

Matthew Upson had thrown England a lifeline just before half-time after a vastly superior Germany had taken a stranglehold on the game with goals from Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski.

But moments after Upson's header, in a grim echo of Geoff Hurst goal that helped England to victory over West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final, Frank Lampard's superb lofted finish landed feet over the line behind German keeper Manuel Neuer, an incident obvious to almost everyone inside the Free State Stadium.

Wayne Rooney entered this World Cup as one of the three top players, behind Messi and  Ronaldo. He failed to deliver. Again today he looked sluggish, unwilling to close down players and disillusioned.

He must go home, rest and find his form at Manchester United under a manager he respects.

England through to face Germany

Jermain Defoe grabs the only goal as England beat Slovenia 1-0 to reach the second round of the World Cup.

England produced a much improved performance to beat Slovenia 1-0 and progress to the last 16 as Group C runners-up.

Fabio Capello's side needed to win after being held to dire draws by USA and Algeria in their opening two World Cup games, and responded with a fine display full of urgency and slick passing.
Two of the players brought into the side by Fabio Capello combined for the crucial goal on 22 minutes as James Milner delivered an excellent cross from the right and Jermain Defoe provided the finishing touch.
England continued to dominate possession and carved out many opportunities to double their advantage, with Samir Handanovic repelling Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney with athletic saves, and Defoe also flicking an effort wide.

Slovenia did carry a threat on the counter-attack and anxiety would have been spreading among England supporters as their team failed to take a more comfortable lead. However, England stayed solid in defence and held on to the final whistle to make it through to the next round, with Slovenia dramatically bowing out as a result of USA's last-gasp winner against Algeria.

Rooney played much better than in any other World Cup match. Still looking a little slow but when he links up with Gerrard things happen. He's not in best in the world form but getting better. 

Rooney looses his cool

ENGLAND'S players were booed off last night - sparking a furious reaction from Wayne Rooney.

The sound of the World Cup vuvuzelas was replaced by jeers as the Three Lions trooped off the pitch following a dismal 0-0 draw with Algeria.



Disappointed Man Utd striker Rooney lost his cool as he headed for the dressing rooms, turning to a TV camera and saying: "Nice to see your home fans boo you. That's what loyal support is."

Captain Steven Gerrard made no excuses for the sloppy display, which left the nation's dreams of glory hanging in the balance.

He said in Cape Town: "We're not happy with the performance, we need more. We want to stay in this tournament until the final stages.
"We were not good enough to make the breakthrough in the final third. We've not got any excuses, we know what we have to do. We have to win the final game."
The Three Lions' faltering start to the tournament went from bad to worse as they failed to score against the North African soccer minnows, having already only drawn with the USA last Saturday.

Our millionaire stars started shakily - then got worse - with Algeria, ranked 22 places below England's 8th position in the FIFA world rankings, looking the most likely to score in the early stages.

Boss Fabio Capello wore a grim expression as he paced the edge of his pitchside technical area, shouting and pointing as his players sweated and struggled to little effect.

And as the vuvuzela horns droned in the stands, smart-suited princes William and Harry sat glum-faced in the VIP seats with their arms folded. The tensions on the pitch failed to dampen the fervor of the Three Lions fans, who urged on England with choruses of God Save The Queen and Rule Britannia.

However, the mood gradually changed as our players managed just three shots on target in a lack luster first half. And as the final whistle sounded with the game still goalless disappointed fans booed the team off the pitch, shouting "We want our money back" as Algerian players ran to salute their jubilant followers.

US keep Wayne Rooney quiet

USA 1 – England 1
RUSTENBURG, South Africa - On Saturday night, Wayne Rooney was throwing his arms into the air, but it wasn't in celebration of what many expected to be a sure-thing goal against the U.S. team.

Rooney, England's all-everything striker, had been on a goal-scoring tear, ripping through the English Premier League season. But in a 1-1 U.S.A.-England tie at Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rooney was halted by the U.S. team's packed-in defensive effort.
Surprisingly, the Americans' defensive tactics didn't include bullying Rooney into an emotional tirade - something he's quite known for. In the first half, England's Steven Gerrard scored before Rooney even touched the ball. It wasn't until a few minutes later that No. 10 took the ball outside the box and introduced himself to the match.

"He didn't have many chances," said U.S. midfielder Landon Donovan. "He didn't really get behind us. He didn't have any really good looks on goal."
Rooney chased the ball everywhere, making runs up and down the field, but all of his efforts ended in visible frustration. Although Rooney avoided receiving one of the game's six yellow cards, on a handful of occasions he picked himself off the turf with his arms extended in frustration.

On the back line of the U.S. team's defense, Jay DeMerit marked Rooney. As Rooney crept into the midfield, the Americans communicated well enough to collapse into him. On the rare chances that Rooney slipped away for a shot on goal, either on a cross or from distance, U.S. goalie Tim Howard handled each of them.

"I thought Jay did well to follow him into the midfield, and they had pressure from the midfielders coming back to close him down," said U.S. defender Carlos Bocanegra. "Second half was a little bit more open, and he got a few more chances to run at us, but that's going to happen when we're a bit tired and space gets more open. I thought we did well on him."

By Kate Fagan, Inquirer Staff Writer

Wayne Rooney Goal

Rooney goal is welcome but all the focus is on him keeping his temper.

Rio Ferdinand has backed England star Wayne Rooney to control his temper during the World Cup in South Africa.

Rooney was booked in Monday's warm-up win over Platinum Stars and accused of using "vulgar language" by the referee.Official Jeff Selogilwe also warned Rooney he risks being sent off at the World Cup unless he curbs his temper. 

But Ferdinand told BBC Sport: "Wayne's experienced now. His disciplinary record has been magnificent over the last couple of years." 

Rooney, 24, was sent off at the last World Cup in 2006, dismissed for stamping on Portugal's Ricardo Carvalho in their quarter-final tie.

And signs of the disciplinary problems that threatened to hamper the Manchester United player's early career reared themselves again in the 3-0 victory over South African club side Platinum Stars.Ahead of the match, England vice-captain Frank Lampard had warned his team-mates that discipline on the field will be a key factor if they are to be successful in the tournament. 

But Rooney appeared to become embroiled in a second-half spat with Platinum Stars' Kagiso Senamela before being booked for dissent. 

Rooney, 24, apologised to the referee after the game but decided against giving him his shirt, as had apparently been agreed beforehand.

"I think the man was in an angry mood, because he didn't even give me his shirt, but I cannot blame him because he's still my player," Selogilwe told BBC World Service. "He's still my favourite player, although I'm a referee there are players that I'm in favour of like Wayne Rooney and other England players as well.

"I was very much disappointed. I didn't expect a top top top player like Rooney to insult the referee.

"If it happens in that way, you are not going to see Rooney in the World Cup."He is a good player when you see him on the TV, but when you see him on the pitch, he just keeps on insulting the referees. 

"To me, it looks like Rooney insults people and fouls other players. If he insults a referee like me then he will use that vulgar language to other referees as well. I was very disappointed in Rooney because he is my favourite player." 

However, Ferdinand, who will miss the finals after injuring a knee in training, added: "Being here [in South Africa] is magnifying things before the World Cup.

"It was a practice match not an official match. I don't see Wazza [Rooney] having a disciplinary problem at the World Cup at all. 

"Since the incident in Germany, he's done so well to get to where he is now."

Rooney satisfied with England performance. His

team-mates also rallied around him after their final warm-up game.

Rooney made a goal for Joe Cole and scored himself late on after Jermain Defoe had given Fabio Capello's side an early lead against the local side.Tottenham striker Defoe, who scored the opener on Monday, said he did not see Rooney's temperament as an issue.

"If under control, I think Wayne's temper is a good thing," he commented. "He has that fire in his belly. If you take that away from him then he won't be the same player."

Manager of the future

Rooney has recently been quoted that it is his dream to be an England national team coach. He plans to get a coach badge as soon as possible. But since he still an active players, he knows that there will be plenty of absence for the training.

” I want to have a career in management. I‘ve been with Everton when I was 9 yrs old, and football became one of the most important thing in my life ever since. When I quit football,  I want to keep involved on it.” He added,” I started the training course  this season, and probably I’ll have  plenty of absences, but hopefully I can do it next year.”

Rooney succeeded in collecting 34 goals this season, and he will be one of the most promising player to join the Three Lions for the upcoming World Cup 2010.

He mentioned his dream of being a coach after he received the award for 'The best England Footballer of the Year'.

Off to Austria

Rooney and the rest of the England squad have left for Austria to prepare for the World Cup finals. They will be training at altitude. 

Only 23 players can go the World Cup, but who will they be? 

With England’s final home friendly before the World Cup just around the corner, Manager Fabio Capello will no doubt already have a good idea of the 23 players who will be on the plane to South Africa in a couple of weeks.

Capello’s current 30-man squad face Mexico and Japan prior to the final squad announcement on 1 June, giving players their last opportunity to stake a claim for a place.

In accordance with FIFA rules, a list of all national squads must be submitted showing players’ “full last name(s), all first names, popular name, number on the shirt, position, place and date of birth, passport number, club and country of the club, height, weight, number of caps won and number of goals scored...

"Only the numbers 1 to 23 may be allocated to these players, with number 1 being reserved exclusively for one of the goalkeepers. Only these 23 players (except in cases of force majeure recognised by the FIFA Organising Committee) will be permitted to compete in the final competition.”

England Squad

Wayne Rooney as expected is in the England training squad of 30 players. He will travel to Austria for altitude training. He is expected to be included in the 23 players going to the South Africa World Cup.

Utd vs Stoke

Manchester United comfortably defeated Stoke but were deposed as Premier League champions on an afternoon of anti-Glazer protests at Old Trafford.

Rooney played 77 minutes

United vs Sunderland

Not much for our man in the game, away to Sunderland. He didn't do much but did manage to get booked.

Nani scored the only goal as Manchester United overcame Sunderland to ensure the Premier League title race will go down to the final day of the season.

Publish Post

Another Award

Wayne Rooney has picked up his second individual award of the season after being voted Football Writers' Association footballer of the year.

The Manchester United striker polled 80% of the vote, with Didier Drogba a distant second and Carlos Tevez third.

"I am delighted to win an award with so much history and tradition," he said.

The 24-year-old, who has scored 34 goals this season, was named player of the year by the Professional Footballers' Association on Sunday.

The Football Writers award makes it a hat-trick of awards for the England international this season after, he was also named the Premier League's fans player of the season this week.

"To follow a long line of wonderful players who have been honoured by the FWA since 1948 gives me real pride," added Rooney.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank my manager at United Sir Alex Ferguson, the coaching staff and my team mates without whose help and support this award would not have been possible."

Rooney has shone at Old Trafford this season following the high-profile departures of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid and Tevez to Manchester City.

The forward has played in a more advanced role than in previous seasons and has become hugely prolific in the air.

The poll that elected Rooney as FWA player of the year was the largest ever recorded in the organisation's history.

FWA chairman Steve Bates said on announcing the award: "Wayne is a worthy winner of our prestigious award and the margin of his victory is testimony to the marvellous season he has had for club and country.

Player of the Year

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney banishes World Cup fears after winning PFA award

Wayne Rooney, who was last night named PFA Player of the Year, has allayed fears over his fitness for the World Cup by declaring he will return for Manchester United’s potentially decisive final Premier League game of the season against Stoke City.

He missed Saturday’s win over Spurs, with manager Sir Alex Ferguson suggesting that he would be missing for “two or three weeks”.

But those fears have now been allayed, with Rooney confirming last night that he expects to have recovered in time for the meeting with Stoke at Old Trafford on May 9, a game that could yet determine the outcome of this season’s Premier League title race.

The striker has also reassured England’s general manager, Franco Baldini, that he will be fully fit for South Africa.

“The groin will be fine for the World Cup, there are no worries about that,” he said. “I’m hoping to play for United in the last game of the season.”

That news will be a relief both to Ferguson and Fabio Capello, who has been anxiously monitoring his striker’s fitness ever since he suffered the ankle injury in the Champions League tie against Bayern Munich earlier this month.

England’s first group game is not until June 12, when they face the United States in Rustenburg, but the squad are due to leave for a training camp in Austria on May 17 and to play Mexico in a friendly at Wembley on May 24.

Another layer of gloss was applied to Rooney’s season last night when he was confirmed as the runaway winner of the PFA Award, beating off competition from Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea striker Didier Drogba and Manchester City forward Carlos Tévez.

Rooney, who helped United win the Carling Cup, has scored 34 goals for the club this season, his best-ever tally, and this is the fourth successive season that an Old Trafford player has received the accolade after Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo (twice).

The 24 year-old was anxious to pay credit to Ferguson’s role in his development and backed the Scot to continue in charge at Old Trafford for many seasons to come.

“Sir Alex has really brought me on as a player since I joined United,” he said. “His hunger passes through to the players. It’s great to see that he’s pushing 70 and hasn’t changed a bit. I’m sure he’ll be here for a long time yet.”

Rooney’s only disappointment last night was his failure to win the Young Player of the Year award, for which he was also nominated. Instead, that honour went to Aston Villa’s James Milner.

The PFA divisional team of the year contains four United players, spearheaded by Rooney.

Arsenal, whose title challenge fell away in the final rounds, supply Fabregas and Thomas Vermaelen and there are also two from Chelsea in Drogba and Branislav Ivanovic.