Rooney: Let Me Play
Sun: ALEX FERGUSON has revealed how Wayne Rooney wants to do everything.
The Manchester United striker has badgered his boss all week to let him play in tonight’s Carling Cup clash against Coventry.
Fergie said: “Wayne Rooney’s been in my ear wanting to play.
“He wants to play, he wants to be the captain, he wants to take penalties, corners, free-kicks, goal-kicks, the lot.
“He just loves football and loves training.”
Often at the end of training, Roo takes Edwin van der Sar’s gloves and goes in goal as well. And he is always the first face Fergie sees at Carrington.
The United boss added: “Wayne is exceptional. He gets up and is the first in the training ground every morning.
“We like the players to come in for breakfast and he is in at 8.45am. He’s unbelievable.”
In normal circumstances, Fergie would rest Rooney tonight. But the England striker, 21, has played only twice since returning from a metatarsal injury.
Wing wizard Cristiano Ronaldo, 22, is also difficult to keep out of any game — even friendlies.
Ferguson said: “They are both young and want to play all the time.
“They would be quite happy to play all day, every day.
“It is very difficult to stop that enthusiasm.”
Most players look forward to a summer break — but not Rooney.
He said: “I was really looking forward to playing again because this is the longest summer I’ve ever had off. It was six weeks.
“After the first couple of weeks, I got bored and wanted to play again.”
Roo knows there is hot competition for places this season. Carlos Tevez has arrived from West Ham and Louis Saha is fit again.
But the former Everton ace refuses to make way for anyone. He said: “This is a big squad and there are a lot of world-class players here.
“But I want to play every week — the manager knows that.
“Hopefully, I can do that. If I don’t, I obviously won’t be too happy. But it’s the manager’s decision. If Louis plays, it’s for me to drop in. And if Tevez plays, it’s for me to stay up. So I don’t mind who I play with.”
Rooney could finally open his account for the season after suffering his injury on the opening day.
United have struggled for goals with him sidelined and Ronaldo suspended for three games.
Rooney added: “We want to play attacking football and score loads of goals.
“We did that last season and we knew it would be more difficult this time.
“But we have still been getting the results, which is important.”
Ferguson is also likely to hand injury-plagued Saha his first start since last February.
New boys Nani and Anderson will be included in the line-up.
It will still be very much a second-string team yet there will be a great atmosphere in Old Trafford with over 70,000 fans expected.
Ferguson said: “It will be a fantastic night and I am sure Coventry will have a real go.
“From what I am led to believe, they are bringing over 10,000 fans with them.
“They were one of the longest-serving top-flight clubs at one point but they have been out of the Premier League for a while now, which probably explains the attraction. It should be a real cup tie.”
Coventry have taken just one point from their last three league games — but Ferguson still thinks manager Iain Dowie is on the right track.
Fergie insisted: “He’s doing a good job. I watched them on Saturday against Ipswich.
“They lost three goals in the first half but looked the better side to me.”
Meanwhile, United captain Gary Neville could be back in first-team action within two weeks.
The England right-back has not played since suffering an ankle ligament injury last March.
Neville, 32, has been set back by other niggling problems as he has pushed himself to get fit again.
Ferguson said: “Gary is training with us this week for the first time since he got injured. He is into the footballing side of it now, which is pleasing news.
“It has been a long time. I am sure he is delighted to get back but, most of all, we are very pleased.
“It was one thing on top of another for him.
“It was an accumulation of small injuries that set him back. Hopefully, he is now on the mend.”
