Wayne Rooney In Line for Manchester Derby Return - Report

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has set his sights on a return to first team action for the season's first Manchester Derby later this month.

The 27-year-old has been unavailable for both club and country for the entire month of September after picking up a horrific cut to his forehead he suffered after colliding with United team mate Phil Jones during training.

The wound saw Rooney ruled out of United's 1-0 loss to Liverpool at the beginning of the month in addition to England's World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine, and will almost certainly be unavailable for his club's games against Crystal Palace on Saturday and Bayer Leverkusen next Tuesday.

However the Mirror suggest the striker may be deemed ready in time for the visit to the Etihad Stadium on September 22 as his club's medical staff continue to closely monitor whether the striker will be ready for the physical risks after suffering such a grisly injury.

Frustrated by suggestions that his injury was not severe enough to rule him out of England's crucial qualifiers over the past six days, Rooney uploaded pictures of his wound to his official Facebook page, a gesture that seemed to have the desired effect on the striker's doubters.

"Some people seem to be questioning my commitment and the fact I had to pull out of the two games," Rooney said after uploading the pictures.

"I'm sure people will see the reason why I won't be able to play. There's nothing I would like more than to be helping the lads in the qualifiers."

United manager David Moyes originally predicted his striker to be out for three weeks, a disappointing blow for the Scot at the time having seen the 27-year-old return impress a week prior against Chelsea.

"It's right down the middle of his forehead where it takes a wee while to heal.

"Probably (he will be out) for three weeks. Phil Jones lifted his boot and caught him right down the middle of the forehead," Moyes said, speaking at the beginning of the month.

Despite his uncertain relationship with the club over the summer, Rooney's return against Manuel Pellegrini's side would be much welcomed having struck four goals in his last four appearances against City.