Wayne Rooney looks set to feature for Manchester United in their huge Champions League showdown on Wednesday against AC Milan after coming through a training session on Tuesday (United 8/13, Milan 9/2 the draw 11/4 match odds).

The in-form striker was rated as doubtful for the last-16 second-leg clash and missed United’s 1-0 win at Wolves on Saturday due to his knee injury.

However, he did train with the rest of the United squad at Carrington ahead of the much-anticipated Old Trafford game and looks like being fit to start against Leonardo’s side (United 11/2 Champions League outright winners).

Ryan Giggs, however, is not expected to play in the game, which United hold a slender 3-2 advantage from the first leg, despite training after having a plate removed from the arm he broke at Aston Villa recently.

Michael Carrick is suspended for the second leg following his late dismissal in the San Siro, so Darren Fletcher is in line to return to the starting line-up as boss Sir Alex Ferguson ponders his options.

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England captain Rio Ferdinand claims the World Cup (Three Lions 5/2 Top European Team) will take care of itself as he instead focuses on the remainder of Manchester United’s season.

The central defender is trying to regain top form after another injury lay-off and missed the Three Lions’ win over Egypt last week.

Ferdinand played against Wolves on Saturday after also sitting out the Carling Cup final win over Aston Villa and should take his place in the side again for the crunch Champions League clash with AC Milan at Old Trafford on Wednesday night (United 1/12 To Qualify).

And the 31-year-old says he has enough on his plate without worrying about England’s campaign in South Africa this summer.

He said: “I’m not thinking about the World Cup at all. I think about playing for Manchester United.

“My football is here at the moment. And everything else will click into place if I’m playing at United. That’s the only way I look at it.”

Ferdinand was promoted to the captaincy after coach Fabio Capello sacked John Terry following his off-field problems.

England kick off their World Cup campaign against USA on June 12.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted in-form Wayne Rooney could miss the Champions League showdown against AC Milan this week (United 8/15, Milan 9/2, the draw 13/5 in totesport’s match betting).

Rooney aggravated a knee injury in England’s friendly win over Egypt last week, and, much to his manager’s annoyance, was unable to play in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Wolves.

And now Fergie has conceded his star forward, who has hit 28 goals this season, is a major concern ahead of the Milan game at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

“It wasn’t looking good from when he got back on Thursday - his knee was swollen,” the Scot said.

“He’s a doubt for Wednesday now, which is a bigger problem for us.”

United had to wait until the 73^rd minute, meanwhile, before Paul Scholes grabbed the vital goal at Wolves that sent them back to the top of the Premier League (United 11/8 to win the title).

And despite a disjointed performance, Ferguson was pleased with the win.

“We deserved the win, no question,” he said afterwards.

“Our form is good and we’re managing without some players, which is important at this time of year.”

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson feels Wayne Rooney is to blame for the knee injury which could rule him out of Saturday’s Premier League trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves 9/1, United 3/10, draw 4/1 weekend coupon).

The Red Devils chief was unhappy that the 24-year-old striker agreed to play for England in Wednesday’s 3-1 international frienly win against Egypt at Wembley, despite carrying a slight knee problem following last Sunday’s Carling Cup final win against Aston Villa.

Following his 86-minute run-out for the Three Lions, top scorer Rooney (3/10 Premier League Top Goalscorer) is a doubt for United’s trip to Molineux and Ferguson feels his player was at fault rather than England coach Fabio capello.

“I don’t think he should have played,” he said.

“It is his own enthusiasm that has caused it. His problem is that he can’t say no.

“He told us on Sunday he was feeling his knee. Then all of a sudden people put an arm around his shoulder with England and he wants to play.

“Fabio Capello has to pick his best team. A win was important so I don’t blame him at all.

“I was more disappointed with Wayne. Why didn’t he come off? I cant believe it.”

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Manchester United (6/4 with totesport to win the Premier League title) will be without Michael Owen for the rest of the season, after the striker was told he needs an operation on a hamstring injury.

The former Real Madrid star pulled up during the first-half of Sunday’s Carling Cup final, having scored the equaliser against Aston Villa, and had to be replaced by Wayne Rooney.

Scans revealed Owen will need surgery to cure the problem and the injury looks set to end his hopes of featuring for England (11/2 to win the 2010 World Cup) in South Africa this summer.

Sir Alex Ferguson revealed: “It is a terrible blow for the lad. It is more serious than we thought. I think the heavy pitch at Wembley played some part, but it’s also bad luck.”

Despite not being a regular starter for United, the 30-year-old has scored nine goals in all competitions this season.

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Carling Cup hero Wayne Rooney is a doubt for the international friendly against Egypt on Wednesday (England 3/10 draw 16/5 Egypt 8/1 - match betting) because of a knee injury, according to Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

The red-hot England striker took his goals tally to 28 in all competitions (Rooney 3/10 Premier League Top Goalscorer) this season with a winning header in the 2-1 victory over Aston Villa at Wembley on Sunday.

The 24-year-old was introduced from the substitutes’ bench just before half-time for the injured Michael Owen, who now faces three weeks out because of a hamstring injury, and Ferguson revealed Rooney had been playing with some discomfort for a few weeks.

“He got a whack right away,” Ferguson said. “He has been complaining about that for a few weeks and I thought we might have to take him off.

“The doctors are assessing it. I don’t know what England are going to do.”

England manager Fabio Capello is expected to make a decision on Rooney’s availability for Wednesday’s visit of the African Nations Cup winners in the next 24 hours.

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Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill is confident that the players in his squad are capable of winning Sunday’s Carling Cup final against Manchester United (Villa 7/4, United 2/5 Carling Cup Winner).

The two sides go head-to-head at Wembley for the season’s first piece of silverware and O’Neill will be boosted by the news skipper Stiliyan Petrov has overcome a virus, while keeper Brad Friedel, defender James Collins and striker Emile Heskey are all pushing for a start after being rested in the FA Cup fifth-round replay win over Crystal Palace.

O’Neill, who won the League Cup while in charge of Leicester, is confident that Villa can win the game (Villa 7/2, United 20/23, draw 13/5 Carling Cup 90 Minutes) after their victory over United at Old Trafford in the Premier League.

The Northern Irishman said: “We have some players in brilliant form who can cause them problems.

“Our confidence comes from being the only team to win at Old Trafford in the league this season. We played exceptionally well that day. But Sunday’s game will be open.”

On the prospect of winning his first trophy since taking over at Villa Park four years ago, O’Neill added: “Winning a trophy is the ultimate. There is no getting away from that and it would be fantastic.

“We have a lot of pictures of the old teams around the training ground. It is something to aspire to.

“I have often said to keep the pictures up on the walls of the 1981 league-winning side and 1982 European Cup-winning side. The early 1980s was a fantastic spell for Villa.

“The history of the club is there to see, a great tradition, so we’d like to try and do something about it.”

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Arsenal struck with two late goals to close the gap on Premier League leaders Chelsea to just three points after a 3-1 success at Stoke, although the win came at a cost as Aaron Ramsey suffered a horrific leg injury.

The Gunners (now 11/4 to win the title) had to come from behind after Danny Pugh’s eighth-minute header from Rory Delap’s throw in, but Nicklas Bendtner levelled matters before half-time.

Midway through the second period, Ramsay suffered his injury for which Ryan Shawcross was sent off although the visitors left it late before making the extra man count.

Cesc Fabregas converted a last minute penalty after Bendtner’s through-ball struck Pugh’s arm before Thomas Vermaelen scored four minutes into stoppage time to seal the victory.

The result means there is a genuine three-horse title race following nine-man Chelsea’s 4-2 defeat at home to Manchester City earlier in the day, with the gap now down to three points.

Roberto Manccini’s men came-from-behind to inflict the league leaders’ first home defeat of the season, with Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy scoring twice for the Citizens and Frank Lampard bagging two for the Blues.

Juliano Belletti and Michael Ballack saw red for the home side who failed to extend their advantage over Manchester United - in action in the Carling Cup final on Sunday.

City (8/11 to win the Premier League W/O Big 4) meanwhile have of course strengthened their grip on a top-four place, pulling three points clear of Tottenham (3/1) and four ahead of Liverpool and Aston Villa (3/1), although Martin O’Neill’s men do have a game in hand.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed he is considering resting red-hot striker Wayne Rooney for the Carling Cup final against Aston Villa at Wembley on Sunday (Aston Villa 16/5 draw 12/5 Man United 20/23 - match betting).

England international Rooney (6/5 Anytine Scorer) has scored 27 goals in all competitions this season and is now just 15 short of the total chalked up by Cristiano Ronaldo in United’s 2008 Champions League-winning season.

Ferguson described the 24-year-old as “world class” in the wake of his Champions League double over AC Milan.

However, with important games coming up, including the return leg against Milan and crucial Premier League games, the Scot has hinted he may wrap Rooney in cotton wool.

“It has to be a consideration simply because we have important games coming up,” said the United boss.

“The problem is he is desperate to play, he is always desperate to play.”

Ferguson joked: “Maybe it is his chance to play right-back because he keeps telling everyone he is a great defender, centre-half or sweeper.”

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Sir Alex Ferguson has told his Manchester United players the only way they will enjoy Wembley on Sunday is by winning the Carling Cup final against Aston Villa (Aston Villa 16/5 draw 12/5 Man United 20/23 - match betting).

The Scot has stressed his players must not get caught up in the emotion of the day when they compete in their fourth League Cup final in eight years - and their third in five – against Martin O’Neill’s Champions League hopefuls.

Villa famously prevented United from winning a domestic treble in 1994 when they recorded a 3-1 win (33/1 Correct Score) under the stewardship of former Old Trafford boss Ron Atkinson.

This time around. Ferguson knows Sunday is an ideal opportunity to put an another trophy on the shelf and insists winning – not the occasion – is all that matters.

“Wembley is an occasion. It has always been that way,” said Ferguson.

“But the only way you can enjoy Wembley is by winning. We have got an opportunity to win something on Sunday. It is not a nice day when you lose.”

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