Rooney lay off - just what he needs!

Following a sub standard World Cup, allegations about his private life, a poor start to the new campaign and calls for his boss for the media to lay off it has not been a good few months for Wayne Rooney.

Now it has been announced by Sir Alex Ferguson that the striker will be out for three weeks, due to an ankle injury picked up during the 2-2 draw against Bolton Wanderers.

However this could be the perfect tonic to get back to form upon his return.

If, against the odds, he can get away from the spot light and sort out some of the problems that have blighted his recent past maybe he could return to form on the field.

So far this season Rooney has only scored once, from the penalty spot, whereas Dimitar Berbatov is the clubs top scorer with seven and Michael Owen has been strengthening his case for a starting spot with three goals in a week.

The former Everton hitman though has cut a forlorn figure up front this season, the weight of the world clearly implanted on his shoulders.

One thing is for sure though, he needs to rid the skeletons from his closet before his form returns and this injury could've come at the perfect time.

Rest, recuperation and no media intrusion, could just bring about the old Wayne Rooney in a months time when he graces the football pitch again.

It could also be a blessing for Manchester United, they have got nothing out of the striker this season and have struggled for wins.

They face a Valencia side tomorrow who top La Liga, as well as needing some big points in the Premier League before the international break hits.

It seems this injury could be perfect for club and player.

National Cups Devalued

As the League Cup gets underway once again this week, it is clear that year on year not just this but now the FA Cup are increasingly getting devalued.

For a number of years now the League Cup has been seen as the competition for the lower sides, with the bigger ones instead deciding to give their younger stars a run out.

And although over recent years we have seen the likes of Manchester United put out a first team in the business end of the tournament, they have still relied on the future stars to get them to that stage.

It was only in the second leg of the Manchester derby semi-final that Sir Alex Ferguson called upon his senior stars.

Now though we are also seeing the FA Cup follow down the very same road, with the FA selling out this great tradition for the Champions League.

It is known that the more respected of our national cups takes place one week before the finale of Europe's premier competition.

However with the Champions League heading to Wembley for this years final, the FA find themselves in hot water with a Fifa ruling.

That ruling is that no play can commence of the pitch where the Champions League will take place for two full weeks before the Showpiece.

That means the FA have no choice but to move the final of the tournament that encapsulates the heart of a nation, to a week earlier on the final day on the regular Premier League season.

Meaning it will become nothing but another fixture, just like the League Cup final has become over the last decade or so.

The days of the old romance of the cup, and England's footballing world coming to a stand still on final day could be coming to an end.

If this is the case it would be such a shame, let's just hope next season the cup recovers and the FAs sell out doesn't have any major impact.

Fergie's bizarre week so far

Following the weekends crazy 3-3 draw at Everton, with two goals conceeded in injury time, Manchester United headed into the Champions League as over whelming favourites for their game at home to Rangers.

However a second debatable team selection in a week left the Red Devils with their second draw in four days.

The decision to keep Wayne Rooney out of the cauldron of hate at Goodison Park seemed the correct one at 3-1 up, but with the Toffees fighting back the debate was always going to be raised.

So we headed into the first round of the Champions League proper, with United Fans quite rightfully optimistic about their sides chances against a Rangers side that in all honesty doesn't quite match up.

While we can praise the defensive performance of the Scottish side, you have to point to Sir Alex's team selection as the main reason as to why the English side didn't come out huge victors.

A number of first teamers were left out, as confidence seemed to be brimming within the United squad.

Either confidence or arrogance.

As the game grew on it was clear United didn't have the creativity to open up Rangers, and the finger will no doubt to the manager and the team he selected.

Nani, who had one of his better displays on Saturday, and Dimitar Berbatov were both left out as they seem to show signs of hitting form.

While there are still five games left in the group stage and they remain favourites to top the group, they can't allow future games to hugely dictate squad selection like last night.

Many sides have tried it in the past and it simply doesn't work, just looked at Liverpool under Rafael Benitez.

Although the game against the Anfield side on Sunday in huge, and now people are rested, surely if they had played against Rangers and won the confidence gained would be the greatest motivator.

If United don't win on Sunday the accusatory finger will once again linger over Old Trafford.