The England and Manchester United captain has been injured for the past month but is confident he can regain full fitness to help the cause of both club and country
Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney is convinced he can regain full fitness in time for both his club's top-four push in the Premier League and for his country's Euro 2016 campaign in the summer.
The 30-year-old has been forced to sit on the sidelines for the past eight matches after injuring a knee ligament during United's 2-1 loss to Sunderland in February, a run which has seen Louis van Gaal's side suffer losses to Liverpool, West Brom and Danish side FC Midtjylland.
Rooney is also set to miss the second leg of United's tie against Liverpool on Thursday as well as the upcoming international break, but is confident it won't be too long before he's back on the pitch.
“It is going as planned. It is going how we first thought. It is going well so hopefully it won't be too long now,” he said.
“I don't know for definite but it could be after the international break, obviously I will miss the England games, but it shouldn't be too long after that.
“It is not too bad. We are being a bit cautious. It is a difficult one to try and push. If I try and push and be involved now it could cause more damage. So we are being cautious. After the international break is a more realistic target.”
Rooney has suffered injury problems in the lead up to major international tournaments in the past, most notably ahead of the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, while also breaking his ankle during the 2004 European Championships.
However the striker is certain that there are enough games ahead for him to regain peak fitness ahead of Euro 2016.
“I am hoping if I am back when I am expected to be back, depending on the two cups we are still in, then there could be 10 games left for United plus the England friendly games so I don’t think that would be a worry.”
- Goal