United sweating on Rooney injury ahead of pivotal return fixture against Bayern

David Moyes is waiting anxiously on Wayne Rooney's fitness for Manchester United's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Bayern Munich.

Rooney is “touch and go” and is awaiting a scan to discover if a toe injury is simply heavy bruising or is as serious as a hairline fracture.

The Manchester United talisman is definitely ruled out of today’s trip to Newcastle United. Moyes is already without Robin van Persie and Rooney’s absence for Wednesday’s return with Bayern at the Allianz Arena would be a sizeable blow. The tie is poised at 1-1.

“Wayne is injured. He has a badly bruised toe so he won’t be involved [against Newcastle]. It will be touch and go for Wayne for Wednesday. With a lot of toe injuries you have to make sure there isn’t a hairline fracture or crack in your toe,” said Moyes.

Welbeck in reserve
"It is a toe injury and they are never easy when you get one. You could see him limping in the game towards the end quite badly. There is not an awful lot you can do with a toe injury – sometimes you can feel better quite quickly with them and sometimes you need an injection possibly to play with it if it is bruising."

Moyes can turn to Danny Welbeck, who with 10 goals is set to beat his best of 12 in the 2011-12 season, and Javier Hernandez.

“Danny has come in and done really well,” said Moyes. “He played well in midweek. We also want to try to get some minutes for Chicharito as well.”

Veteran Ryan Giggs is also a doubt for the trip to Munich owing to a minor injury. While Moyes is still deciding whether to offer the Welshman a new playing contract the manager is clear the 40-year-old will continue as a coach next season. "He's very much a part of our staff," he said.

Da Silva doubt
"He's got an injury which means I'm probably going to leave him behind [

for Newcastle] to see if I can get him recovered this weekend, because I need him to try to get back fit for Wednesday night. But Ryan is very much a part of the staff.”

While Jonny Evans and Chris Smalling are back in training following injury they remain a doubt for Newcastle. Rafael da Silva is also doubtful.

Despite the degree of difficulty facing United in Munich Moyes is looking forward to the second leg. "It's a team full of fantastic strikers and goalscorers and that is what really makes the difference in this level," he said .
Guardian Service