United duo step up comeback bids

RETURN ... Wayne Rooney is expected to be on the bench tonight

WAYNE ROONEY returns to action for Manchester United this week facing an unfamiliar battle.

The England striker has recovered from the gashed leg he suffered in the second game of the season and is expected to be on the bench tonight when United host Newcastle in the Capital One Cup.

But 26-year-old Rooney knows he can no longer be guaranteed a place in the Red Devils’ starting line-up following the summer arrivals of Robin van Persie and Shinji Kagawa.

That was made abundantly clear when Rooney was unceremoniously axed for that second league game against Fulham after a lacklustre performance in the 1-0 defeat away to former club Everton.

United manager Alex Ferguson was unhappy with his star’s form and fitness and ordered him to shape up in the gym while his leg recovered.

Now Rooney faces a battle to get back into the team, starting against Toon.

Then Ferguson will have to decide whether to play him in the Saturday home game against Tottenham.

Tonight also provides a big chance for a United star who must have wondered whether he would play again.

Darren Fletcher has not started a game since last November after being diagnosed with an inflammatory bowel condition which sapped him of his strength and left him bedridden.

The Scotland midfielder, 28, has been involved in a brave battle back to fitness and will be in the starting line-up at Old Trafford tonight.

Ferguson said: “He will certainly start against Newcastle and that is the perfect game for him to start back.

“Then we have the home game against Tottenham and he could be involved. It depends on how he does on Wednesday.

“It will be Darren’s first 90 minutes since 10 months out. It is a big one for him.
“He is handling the condition at the moment. As we saw the other night, he is looking fine.

“It is a matter of hoping the condition stays dormant and he is handling his diet well. Hopefully he gets that break.”

Fletcher came on as a 79th-minute substitute in last week’s Champions League victory over Galatasaray and the ovation he received showed just how highly he is regarded by the United fans.

Ferguson added: “The fans recognised what a tough time Darren has had.

“It was a mark of respect that they gave him a marvellous ovation.

“Being out of the game for a year, it took him quite a few minutes to really get going.

“He did one or two good things but he can only get better after this.”

United could hand full debuts tonight to 21-year-old centre-back Scott Wootton and 19-year-old right-back Michael Keane.