Wayne Rooney to miss game vs. Ajax

Updated: February 22, 2012, 12:34 PM ET
Associated Press

LONDON -- Manchester United says Wayne Rooney will miss Thursday's Europa League match against Ajax because of a throat infection.

Rooney became ill following last week's 2-0 victory in the first leg of the last-32 match in Amsterdam.

He was sent home despite reporting for training Wednesday morning.

United manager Alex Ferguson says Rooney "has a really bad throat. There were traces of it in Amsterdam and we gave him some medication but it got worse. He has been in bed over the weekend."

United has a Premier League match against Norwich, and Ferguson says "we are trying hard to get him right for Sunday."

The Premier League champions are two points behind Manchester City in the title race.


Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press