Manchester United injury news: Wayne Rooney set for another month out with knee problem

Manchester United have been handed a major blow on the injury front with Wayne Rooney set to be sidelined for another month with the knee injury he sustained in February. The England international was pencilled in for a start against Everton on 3 April but Louis van Gaal has to wait some more time to welcome his star player back into the first eleven, his latest medical reports indicate.

The Mirror states that Rooney's knee injury has not healed as quickly as expected, but the player is likely to be available for the Euros later in the year. United could have done well by having Rooney in the mix at this point, following a chastening defeat at the hands of arch rivals Liverpool at Anfield in the first leg of the round of 16 tie of the Europa League.

Rooney does not need a brace on his injured knee anymore but the game against Everton would come too soon for the England international, who was expected to be available just after the international break where England take on Germany and Holland to prepare for the much anticipated spectacle in France. The Red Devils currently have six players unavailable through injury, with the likes of Luke Shaw, Ashley Young, Phil Jones, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Will Keane among the others who are unlikely to feature in the second leg against Liverpool at Old Trafford next week.

United, are currently in sixth spot, three points adrift of Manchester City in fourth, who have a game in hand. However, the management are looking to give Rooney as much time as he needs so as to not exacerbate his problem and have him back for the final few games of the season, thus giving him some much needed match practice before the summer tournament.

United's best chance to win a trophy this season is the FA Cup, where they have been pitted against West Ham at Old Trafford, in a game that takes place on Sunday, 13 March. The Red Devils were eliminated from the quarter-finals last season by Arsenal, with Danny Welbeck scoring the winner following his return to Old Trafford.