Fergie refuses to reignite Rooney row

Sir Alex Ferguson has refused to reignite the row over Wayne Rooney’s fitness after the Manchester United striker claimed he hasn’t been suffering from an ankle injury.

Ferguson had insisted Rooney’s absence from three recent United matches was down to an ankle problem, but the player and England’s physio Gary Lewin disagreed with that assessment when they spoke to reporters after England’s 0-0 draw with Montenegro on Tuesday.

Rooney showed his fitness by playing the full 90 minutes of that Euro 2012 qualifier at Wembley, yet he is still not certain to start United’s home match against West Brom on Saturday.

It is thought Ferguson has been keen to keep his star striker out of the spotlight following stories that he paid prostitutes for sex while his wife was pregnant with their first child.

Reports have also claimed Rooney’s relationship with Ferguson has become strained over his lack of playing time, but the United manager played down talk of a rift on Friday.

“It is water off a duck’s back to me,” Ferguson told Key103.

“I don’t know where all these things come from. The boy is always in the spotlight and being addressed by the press.

“It is important how you handle it in my experience. But it just runs off me. It doesn’t mean anything.”

Ferguson also revealed that long-term injury victim Owen Hargreaves is not in contention to face West Brom despite Dr Richard Steadman’s claims earlier this week that the midfielder was ready to return to action.

Steadman has operated on Hargreaves in the past in a bid to cure a recurring knee problem which has sidelined him for two years, but the player is now suffering from a calf injury and Ferguson was quick to tell the knee surgeon to stay out of United’s affairs.

“Owen is not ready. He is injured,” Ferguson said. “He has missed training for the last few days.

“We are having difficulties with the doctor in Colorado coming out with statements that are not accurate.

“It is not fair to the player for him to say Owen is going to be playing on Saturday.

“It is ridiculous. I pick the team and I have been doing it for quite a while.

“We have this small interference, which is causing some confusion. He is out with a calf injury.”