Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney looks like missing the start of the Premier League season after picking up a virus in Nigeria, his manager Sir Alex Ferguson revealed Tuesday, dpa reported.
"I doubt we'll get Rooney fit for the start of the season with the virus he's had," said Ferguson.
"It's a virus he picked up in Nigeria and it's not a nice one, but quite a few have had it. It's such a bad virus and he's got to be training to be fit."
Rooney did not even play in the game in Nigeria - a 2-1 friendly victory over Portsmouth last week that had already drawn stiff criticism.
Rooney will miss the Charity Shield match against Portsmouth on Sunday and is unlikely to line up against Newcastle United when the Premier Legaue season gets under way the following week.