England striker Wayne Rooney has been left out of Manchester United’s Community Shield squad because of a shoulder injury. The 27-year-old has trained with United’s reserves this week but was not deemed fit to face Wigan at Wembley.
Robin van Persie, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra are, however, all expected to return for United after missing Rio Ferdinand’s testimonial on Friday.
Wigan are without captain Gary Caldwell but James McClean could make his debut.
Another new signing, Thomas Rogne, is out with a back problem for Wigan, though Leon Barnett and Emmerson Boyce are expected to retain their places in Owen Coyle’s side.
Grant Holt will lead the line for his new club after dropping down a division from Norwich, with Marc Antoine-Fortune also in contention.
Rooney missed Rio Ferdinand’s testimonial against Sevilla at Old Trafford on Friday, having suffered the injury during a behind-closed-doors match nine days ago. But Roy Hodgson’s decision to include the striker in his squad for England’s friendly against Scotland at Wembley on Wednesday appears at odds with United’s stance.
Rooney publicly thanked Hodgson for his “faith and support” in a message on his Facebook account on Friday. “Can’t wait to join up with the England squad and hopefully play in a competitive match, they always are against Scotland,” Rooney wrote.
“Big thanks to Roy Hodgson for selecting me and showing his faith and support, appreciate it.”
Hodgson has already said that he believes Rooney is physically fit but it has now been more than a month since the striker joined up with United’s senior squad since leaving the club’s pre-season in Asia with a hamstring injury.
United insist that Rooney will not be sold this summer, having rejected two bids from Chelsea.
